George Sherriff
Biography
Artist and illustrator. "SHERRIFF, George 1846–1930
Wanganui painter and sculptor. Born Brighton, England: educated Rusthall Manor, Tunbridge Wells, Kent. Studied art at Melbourne Hurst, at the West London School of Art, and at the Slade School of Animal Painting, London. Arrived New Zealand probably c.1883 and became an early settler farmer in the Wanganui district. Exhibited with the Fine Arts Assoc Wtn 1883–84; NZ Industrial Ex Wtn 1885; ASA 1886; Centennial Ex, Melbourne 1888–89; NZ Academy of Fine Arts intermittently from 1890. Listed as Wanganui artist 1896–97 and 1900, and as ‘Sheriff's Studio’ 1911–13 Wise's. A founding member of the Wanganui Arts and Crafts Society, elected to the first committee 20 July 1901. Represented: Wanganui Public Library (portraits); Sarjeant, Turnbull."
Una Platts, Nineteenth Century New Zealand Artists: A Guide & Handbook
Avon Fine Prints, 1980, Christchurch
George Sherriff was born in England on 18 January 1846. His father Francis and some of his family arrived in New Zealand in 1854 and farmed at Rusthall near Wanganui. However it was not until 1862 that Francis brought out other members of his family including George ( by now aged 16 ) on the SS Constance . George is also recorded as one of the fire-fighters who battled a large fire in Wanganui during the Christmas of 1868.
He later set up a studio in Ridgway Street in 1868. In 1881 eleven of his works were included in the Wanganui Exhibition of Fine Arts, Science & Industry. He was an inaugural member of the Wanganui Arts & Crafts Society in August 1901. He is renowned for designing the Veteran Steps with its distinctive lion. George Sherriff died on Christmas Day, 1930.
An exhibition of paintings by the New Zealand artist George Sherriff (1846 ? 1930), who designed Wanganui's Veterans' Steps, opens at the Sarjeant Gallery on Saturday.
George Sherriff was born and lived in England until the age of 16 when he and his family moved to New Zealand.
Soon after his arrival, he and his brothers served in the militia, as well as helping on the family farm. However he wanted to study art and studied first in Melbourne and then at the West London School of Art, and Slade. On his return to New Zealand in 1868 he built a studio in Ridgway St, Wanganui.
In 1882 he had a sketch published in the London Graphic of the prophet Te Whiti ? 'downcast, but not contrite'. When the Colonial and Indian Exhibition of London was held in 1886 Sherriff exhibited two oil paintings titled A Victim of the Keas and The Land of the Moa.
In 1892 he was asked to design the Veterans' Steps in Wanganui which are a memorial to the Imperial and Volunteer Forces who died during the Land Wars. The main feature of the design is a recumbent lion which he carved in two pieces, each weighing about two tons. The Lion monument was originally higher up the hill in Queen's Park, but was moved to its present position in 1919 with the building of the Sarjeant Gallery.
During the early 1900s, Sherriff spent several years painting in England and France, setting up headquarters at St Ives in Cornwall. When he returned to Wanganui in 1908 he brought back with him many of the paintings and watercolours included in this exhibition.
George Sherriff never married and died on Christmas day, 1930, aged 84. He is buried in Wanganui next to his father, Francis.
The George Sherriff exhibition will continue to December 12.
- Wanganui Chronicle 29 Sept 2004
NINETEENTH CENTURY NEW ZEALAND ARTISTS: A GUIDE & HANDBOOK
SHERRIFF, GEORGE 1846–1930
Wanganui painter and sculptor. Born Brighton, England: educated Rusthall Manor, Tunbridge Wells, Kent. Studied art at Melbourne Hurst, at the West London School of Art, and at the Slade School of Animal Painting, London. Arrived New Zealand probably c.1883 and became an early settler farmer in the Wanganui district. Exhibited with the Fine Arts Assoc Wtn 1883–84; NZ Industrial Ex Wtn 1885; ASA 1886; Centennial Ex, Melbourne 1888–89; NZ Academy of Fine Arts intermittently from 1890. Listed as Wanganui artist 1896–97 and 1900, and as ‘Sheriff's Studio’ 1911–13 Wise's. A founding member of the Wanganui Arts and Crafts Society, elected to the first committee 20 July 1901. Represented: Wanganui Public Library (portraits); Sarjeant, Turnbull.
Wanganui painter and sculptor. Born Brighton, England: educated Rusthall Manor, Tunbridge Wells, Kent. Studied art at Melbourne Hurst, at the West London School of Art, and at the Slade School of Animal Painting, London. Arrived New Zealand probably c.1883 and became an early settler farmer in the Wanganui district. Exhibited with the Fine Arts Assoc Wtn 1883–84; NZ Industrial Ex Wtn 1885; ASA 1886; Centennial Ex, Melbourne 1888–89; NZ Academy of Fine Arts intermittently from 1890. Listed as Wanganui artist 1896–97 and 1900, and as ‘Sheriff's Studio’ 1911–13 Wise's. A founding member of the Wanganui Arts and Crafts Society, elected to the first committee 20 July 1901. Represented: Wanganui Public Library (portraits); Sarjeant, Turnbull."
Una Platts, Nineteenth Century New Zealand Artists: A Guide & Handbook
Avon Fine Prints, 1980, Christchurch
George Sherriff was born in England on 18 January 1846. His father Francis and some of his family arrived in New Zealand in 1854 and farmed at Rusthall near Wanganui. However it was not until 1862 that Francis brought out other members of his family including George ( by now aged 16 ) on the SS Constance . George is also recorded as one of the fire-fighters who battled a large fire in Wanganui during the Christmas of 1868.
He later set up a studio in Ridgway Street in 1868. In 1881 eleven of his works were included in the Wanganui Exhibition of Fine Arts, Science & Industry. He was an inaugural member of the Wanganui Arts & Crafts Society in August 1901. He is renowned for designing the Veteran Steps with its distinctive lion. George Sherriff died on Christmas Day, 1930.
An exhibition of paintings by the New Zealand artist George Sherriff (1846 ? 1930), who designed Wanganui's Veterans' Steps, opens at the Sarjeant Gallery on Saturday.
George Sherriff was born and lived in England until the age of 16 when he and his family moved to New Zealand.
Soon after his arrival, he and his brothers served in the militia, as well as helping on the family farm. However he wanted to study art and studied first in Melbourne and then at the West London School of Art, and Slade. On his return to New Zealand in 1868 he built a studio in Ridgway St, Wanganui.
In 1882 he had a sketch published in the London Graphic of the prophet Te Whiti ? 'downcast, but not contrite'. When the Colonial and Indian Exhibition of London was held in 1886 Sherriff exhibited two oil paintings titled A Victim of the Keas and The Land of the Moa.
In 1892 he was asked to design the Veterans' Steps in Wanganui which are a memorial to the Imperial and Volunteer Forces who died during the Land Wars. The main feature of the design is a recumbent lion which he carved in two pieces, each weighing about two tons. The Lion monument was originally higher up the hill in Queen's Park, but was moved to its present position in 1919 with the building of the Sarjeant Gallery.
During the early 1900s, Sherriff spent several years painting in England and France, setting up headquarters at St Ives in Cornwall. When he returned to Wanganui in 1908 he brought back with him many of the paintings and watercolours included in this exhibition.
George Sherriff never married and died on Christmas day, 1930, aged 84. He is buried in Wanganui next to his father, Francis.
The George Sherriff exhibition will continue to December 12.
- Wanganui Chronicle 29 Sept 2004
NINETEENTH CENTURY NEW ZEALAND ARTISTS: A GUIDE & HANDBOOK
SHERRIFF, GEORGE 1846–1930
Wanganui painter and sculptor. Born Brighton, England: educated Rusthall Manor, Tunbridge Wells, Kent. Studied art at Melbourne Hurst, at the West London School of Art, and at the Slade School of Animal Painting, London. Arrived New Zealand probably c.1883 and became an early settler farmer in the Wanganui district. Exhibited with the Fine Arts Assoc Wtn 1883–84; NZ Industrial Ex Wtn 1885; ASA 1886; Centennial Ex, Melbourne 1888–89; NZ Academy of Fine Arts intermittently from 1890. Listed as Wanganui artist 1896–97 and 1900, and as ‘Sheriff's Studio’ 1911–13 Wise's. A founding member of the Wanganui Arts and Crafts Society, elected to the first committee 20 July 1901. Represented: Wanganui Public Library (portraits); Sarjeant, Turnbull.
b.1846, d.1930
Place Of Birth
Place Of Death
Nationality
