Bio

Derek March is a NZ fine artist and sculptor based in Waitakere River Valley in West Auckland. An advocate for nature and the preservation of the environment, Derek is known for his oil paintings, wooden sculptures (NZ), and New Zealand wooden wall art showcasing Aotearoa New Zealand’s unique wildlife, including eels, fish, and native birds such as the tūī, kōtare (NZ kingfisher), and kererū (wild pigeon).

A consistent style in Derek’s wildlife art is found in the attention he pays to different types of light. The colour palette in his oil paintings captures the half-light, moody yet beautiful, found on the west coast of Auckland and in the Hauraki plains. Derek believes his work practice is often about giving form to his thought processes.

Usually when I begin a piece I have only a partial idea about the narrative and the form it will take. Solutions gradually unfold during the process of working and I love the journey of uncovering this mystery.

Derek graduated from Elam School of Fine Arts in 1969 and Epsom Teacher Training College in 1970. At Elam, Derek’s painting tutor was Colin McCahon, which comes across in Derek’s skilful, atmospheric landscapes. As well as teaching, Derek has worked part-time in the fields of leather craft, jewellery, sculpture, painting, and photography. His jewellery featured in numerous group and solo exhibitions between 1982 and 1989.

Derek works in his home studio in West Auckland, surrounded by nature, where he has lived for over 45 years. His teaching, post-graduate studies, art work, and involvement in the restoration of a river habitat in the Waitakere River Valley, all reflect his love of nature and concern for the conservation of the natural environment. His memorable exhibition, Dark Waters, at Lopdell House Gallery was a reflection on the transformation of the land on the Hauraki Plains and the tension between farming and the loss of wildlife habitats. Derek is a keen member of Riverwatch, a volunteer group that replants native vegetation around river banks and estuaries.

Painting has been Derek’s main focus over the past fifteen or so years and his nature art has featured in numerous solo and group shows over that time. Alongside Art by the Sea, his sculptures and nature painting have appeared in solo exhibitions in Lopdell House (Titirangi, Auckland), Corbans Estate Centre (Henderson, Auckland,) and The Suter Gallery (Nelson).