Henry William (Harry Kirkwood) 1854-1925

Professional artist, mainly landscapes in oil. Born Berwick-on-Tweed, Scotland: said to have started training as a solicitor in Edinburgh. Arrived in New Zealand c.1879 and seems to have moved from centre to centre working as a professional artist. Was in: Dunedin 1888-89; Wellington 1890-94; Nelson 1894-1904, where he taught at Nelson College and was listed as an artist in Wise's; New Plymouth 1906-10, and again listed as artist in Wise's; Wanganui 1911-c.14; Palmerston North 1914-17; Napier 1917; Auckland PAGE 148 1918-22 though listed in Wise's 1918-23. Wise's also has him listed as a New Plymouth artist 1924-47 but though he probably had a short stay in New Plymouth as well as a visit to Whangarei, he left for Sydney about early 1924. He died in Sydney. He travelled extensively from his different centres and at one time was visiting much of Fiordland in the steamer Hinemoa, the trip believed to have been arranged by the Government Tourist Department. All through the years he continued to paint and had many pupils. He exhibited at the main art societies and at agricultural shows. He and Colin Mackay and L. W. Wilson painted a panorama of the Pink and White Terraces. O'Keeffe wrote that chrome yellow was said to have played a large part in the making of it, but also "a large stone jar which often had to be filled". The painting was exhibited throughout New Zealand. Represented: NAG, Suter.

Text: 19th Century New Zealand Artists, Una Platts