William has travelled extensively and lived an artistically inclined life but only turning to painting in the last 15 years.

Born in Scotland, but raised and educated in the United States until the age of fourteen, returning to Britain to complete his education in England.

From there a four year apprenticeship in Stirling, Scotland as a hairdresser, which has endured as a passion for 56 years.

Then it was off to Spain to live for a year. The next four years spent in London before moving to NZ with his young family where he has remained for the last 48 years.

He has a diploma in Photographic Arts from Whitecliffe College. Painting however is his true passion. Exhibiting in the North Island and England.

Although self taught he acknowledges, and has enjoyed, the help and encouragement of many artists in the Art Community, particularly Lorna Allen, John Towers and Jenny Lock-Forbes

In 2007 he won the Best New Artist Award at NZ’s largest Art Show Competition, the Royal Easter Show, in Auckland. Then taking out the supreme award, the K. G. Fraser Award for Most Outstanding Painting in the Exhibition of 1100 works.

“My work, although abstracted by nature, has an organic beginning and feel. I love a sense of depth and the use of bold colour.

Though not always easy I hope my works make people think.”

Critically well received his first solo exhibition in December 2010 was a near sell out.

William was also one of the founding members of the Innovative Bartisan Art Group.

Now living in Helensville Northwest of Auckland, New Zealand’s largest city, he resides in and has his studio in a 1920s Art Deco Bank.

The Studio is open to the public when he is painting or by appointment. So if you’re passing come in for a coffee and talk about art.