Walden Larimore Tucker

1932 Born - Mount Eden – Auckland

Early schooling: Gladstone school (primary) - Mount Eden Grammar,

1948-1950 Wanganui Technical College (failed to achieve UE painting and drawing)

1951-52 – 1953 ? Kingston Upon Thames Art School (London UK) (under
Reginald Brill)

1954-55 – 1957? Rome School - Italy (after wining Prix de Rome)

Returned to England

Married and had three children.
Teaching art at Swindon College (UK)

Returned to New Zealand and had some teaching positions at North Island Schools (Morrinsville and Huntley)

Employed at Otago School of Art – moved to Saddle Hill property where he built an impressive studio and house.

Married for second time – moved to small bungalow in Mosgiel Dunedin after a stroke.

2006 Died Mosgiel Dunedin - the last years in a retirement complex.



Something of an unknown figure, unrecognised by the art establishment Walden Tucker was hugely respected by a large number of the pupils at the Otago School of Art and certainly is remembered by most for his disciplined and insightful approach to painting and drawing. A large amount of his energy went into his teaching and the construction of his home and studio on Saddle Hill during his long tenure at Otago.
It was during his time at the Kingston upon Thames art college (under Reginald Brill) in England that Walden began etching and proved to be something of a sensation winning the prestigious Prix de Rome in his early twenties (possibly the youngest recipient).

After his return to New Zealand he concentrated mainly on his teaching.
While producing work all the time he considered a lot of it preliminary or keeping in touch with the means and never pursued exhibition or sales of his work. Unfortunately a large amount of this work was lost after a stroke