Ion Brown

from the 1st December to the 23rd December 2018

Born and educated in Dunedin, Ion Brown experienced an interest in art at an early age. He enrolled in art classes at King Edward Technical College, and later completed a 5 year apprenticeship in engraving. Ion moved to Napier in 1963 to start his own engraving business.

A course of painting classes from Peter Brown, former Elam University tutor, led
to Ion pursuing painting as a career, also a lifetime friendship with Peter.
Success with painting exhibitions encouraged Ion to pass the engraving busi-
ness to his wife, and concentrate on a full-time painting career.

For more than 30 years Ion has developed his painting skills to produce many
successful solo exhibitions.

In 1987 Ion was priveleged to be appointed Official artist to the New Zealand
Army. This commission continued until 1997. During this decade Ion was fortu-
nate to travel widely with the Army to record its History in many of its fields of
operation, and to record the 75^th Anniversary of the Gallipoli campaign and also
during his commission was The Battle of Chunuk Bair which now hangs in Par-
liament building.

Ion has continued to pursue his own style, and passionately enjoys painting
New Zealands people going about their work and leisure, and capturing the
special light and atmosphere that our New Zealand landscape provides.