Paul's many and varied talents come from his eclectic career background. He is a landscape designer, has been a soldier, display artist and volunteer firefighter, and currently works part-time as a funeral assistant.
Paul was Jane Sinclair's first ring-in for the ConArt Gallery & Studios Inc. steering group. Paul's work experience made him an obvious choice as Treasurer - so his most important job each month is paying our members their commission.
Paul is incredibly resourceful, and as you can see from his gallery below, a very talented painter. Some of his paintings have been provocative and long may that continue.
Paul Gadsby was born in Christchurch, New Zealand in 1959. He works predominantly in the medium of oil painting, mainly in large-scale work.
Paul is a self-taught artist, whose eclectic style demonstrates an artist that is still in search of his own style. He has only recently started painting (2012), after a long hiatus going back as far as the mid-1970s where he attended art classes at Mana College in Porirua. He was fortunate to be taught by Robyn Kahukiwa, a famous New Zealand Artist.
Paul’s 2nd oil painting (nude study) ‘Melissa’ in 2013 took over 12 months to paint and sold for $1,000. That was the springboard for Paul’s forte into the arts. The capping came in 2015 with acceptance of his painting ‘Tea Please No Sugar’ into the New Zealand Academy of Fine Arts' ‘Gallipoli Trilogy’ exhibition in Wellington.
In 2013 Paul exhibited at Aratoi Museum of Art & History with the Masterton Art Club, and in a couple of exhibitions at the Carterton Event Centre. In 2014 Paul exhibited with Jane Sinclair’s student artists at the Te Whiti Soiree and again with the Masterton Art Club Kaleidoscope exhibition in August at Aratoi Wairarapa Museum of Art & History. In 2015 Paul’s art was accepted into various exhibitions including the Wai Art ‘Rita Angus Revisited’ exhibition at the Carterton Event Centre, the NZ Academy of Fine Arts ‘Gallipoli Trilogy’ exhibition in Wellington and the Friends of Aratoi Art Awards at Arotai Museum of Art & History Masterton.
In 2015, Paul began working on a series of bird paintings with an environmental theme, starting with ‘39% Pure NZ' a creative style influenced by the famous New Zealand artist Don Binney. This painting was exhibited at Alfred Memelink Artspace Gallery in February 2016 as part of Jane Sinclair’s selected art students.
December 2017, the portrait painting of ‘Koro Jim Rimene – Rangitane’ was selected into the Aratoi show 'Wairarapa Review'. At the awards ceremony, this painting received a commendation as a stand-out piece amongst the review collection. Subsequently this year (2018) the painting was proudly gifted to the Rangitane O Wairarapa Iwi.
In May 2018, Paul had his first solo exhibition, at Alfred Memelink's Artspace Gallery featuring a selection of works from the bird series he began in 2015.
June 2019, at Aratoi Art & History Museum, Paul had his second solo exhibition TAKEAWAYS, continuing his series of environmental bird paintings, capturing current environmental issues including the impact on native species and their habitats.
Paul is currently working on a historical painting relating to Norman Kirk, who in 1973 sent the HMNZS Otago on a high profile protest over French atmosphere nuclear testing ogg Mururoa Atoll.
- Paul Gadsby, Masterton
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