About
the Artist
COMBINING CREATIVITY WITH AN INTEREST IN THE OUTDOORS
Struan is currently based in Little River on Banks Peninsula where he divides his time between painting and counselling. Painting has been a lifelong love and he has been a recreational painter for many years. He mainly works in oils and has developed his technique using this medium.
His work typically portrays remote wilderness areas of Southern New Zealand and he is especially interested in portraying the New Zealand native bush.
For Struan, painting is a way to combine creativity with an interest in the outdoors and in hiking. Hiking trips inevitably become photographic journeys and a means to gather source material.
SENSE OF AWE FOR THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT
His style of painting continues to evolve and recent years have seen a shift away from landscapes to focus more on wilderness. This interest in wilderness reflects a fascination with the natural world, where human modification is less apparent.
The paintings are intended not only to communicate a sense of awe for the natural environment, but also to stimulate gratitude, reminding us that nature is precious and requires our care to restore and protect the natural environment.
