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If Algies Bay resident Wyn Thomas hadn’t heard the chime of that immortal phrase, “get yourself a proper job, lad”, then painting may have been his life.
But, the phrase hit the mark and he gave up his art studies in favour of a “proper job” in engineering.
“I got myself an engineering apprenticeship, but never stopped drawing,” he says.
Next month, Wyn will be one of 80 artists exhibiting more than 250 artworks as part of the annual Great Summer Art Exhibition in Snells Beach.
The exhibition, which is in its 30th year, is a major fundraiser for the Mahurangi East Tennis Club, and Wyn is no stranger to the show. Although he wasn’t one of the first artists to join, he was one of the early supporters and has had some success over the years, winning once and coming second on another occasion.
“The exhibition gets better every year and is professionally run. I will be exhibiting four paintings this year,” he says.
Born in the Anglesey area of northern Wales, Wyn spoke only Welsh until he was nine. He started drawing when he was young and won the BBC Sketch Club twice, a competition also won by Rolling Stones guitarist Ronnie Wood.
His painting style is photo realism, with a wide canvas of subjects from portraits, animals, landscapes and seascapes to very detailed paintings of sailing ships, engines and aircraft.
“I love details, perhaps because I’m an engineer,” he says. “I also like hard subjects just to prove to myself that I can do it. “Each painting takes an average of 40 to 50 hours, but you also spend a lot of time thinking about a painting before and while you are painting it.
“I love it. As a retiree, it’s what gets me out of bed every morning and I feel lucky that I’ve got a hobby that I love so much.”
Wyn’s paintings are in private collections across NZ, as well as in the United Kingdom, South Korea, Australia and the United States.
Entries in this year’s exhibition will be judged by painter and former gallery owner Bill Harris, and Bayleys Warkworth is again the major sponsor.
Winning artists will share a total prize pool of just under $4500, all sponsored by local businesses. All artworks will be for sale, with 20 per cent of proceeds and all entry fees going to community tennis initiatives such as the Love Tennis free family event, and the maintenance and upgrading of club facilities.
The exhibition also features a Cash & Carry section and organisers are expecting around 25 tables with a diverse range of items for sale, including large and small ceramics, ceramic/wood mixed media, resin and silver jewellery, wood and resin tableware, wooden platters and bowls, prints, original paintings, cards and leather wallets.
The Great Summer Art Exhibition will be held at the Maharani East Community Centre, from December 29 to January 1. The preview night on December 29 opens at 7pm and entry is $20. On the remaining three days, the exhibition will be open from 10am to 4pm, with a gold coin donation appreciated.
