Walter and Dorothy Scott

Walter Scott. Hon F.P.A.N.Z. Patron of Pastel Artists of NZ Inc.

My background in the visual arts is in photography, where I learnt the importance that light plays in a composition. It brings forth light and shade (tone in painting terminology), which influences shape and texture.

I must "see" a picture before I paint it.  The first question is, why do I want to paint this? What is it saying to me? What feeling, what message do I want to convey? How will it communicate with the viewer? Will it arouse an emotional response? Will it be remembered? Once I have satisfied myself on these points, I apply impeccable technique suitable to the subject matter and rendition.

My contribution to the Arts in the past has mostly been in various administrative roles, including a decade as Treasurer and Member of the Council of the Photographic Society of New Zealand. I was awarded their Sevice Medal in 1975, the second to receive it, and am now the longest surviving recipient. Apart from that, I've been a Director and Judge in various exhibitions both National and International, and also set up the Trans-Tasman Photographic competition in 1968.

I am a former President of the Marlborough Art Society and Life Member (2005). Through this I was instrumental in setting up an exhibition at the Marlborough Gallery, of the works of Peter Wood, a renowned pastelist from the UK. My interest in the use of pastel developed from that.

I saw the need to form a national Pastel Society, and in 2002, that dream became reality. I was the Founding President of Pastel Artists New Zealand (2002), elected Honorary Fellow (2006) and Patron (2009).

There was nowhere locally (Blenheim) that good quality art supplies or art could be purchased, so, in 2002 Dorothy and I established Queen Street Fine Arts. In 2007 at the age of seventy-five we decided to retire and enjoy some time for ourselves.

Looking to the future? My goal among others is to emulate our first Patron, the late Dr Richard Pike who was pastelling into his mid-nineties.

Dot Scott

I've always loved art, and began taking it seriously about 1983, when with some like-minded enthusiasts in the small north Wairarapa village of Makuri, we formed a group which met weekly to paint together and learn from one another.

Then, I worked mostly in pencil, pen and wash and watercolour, but after i moved to Marlborough, Walter and I met Peter Wood, an English artist working in pastel. I fell in love with the wonderful colours, their vibrancy and redition of light and shade, and I was hooked. I've worked almost exclusively in the medium ever since, and my works have been accepted in exhibitions nationwide.

I was very involved in the beginnings of PANZ, making sure that all the processes worked, designing and producing the first PANZ brochure, and the certificates for the presentations of awards, etc. for the first three Conventions.

Walter and I organised the first Pastel Convention here in Marlborough, and I served on the committee for several years, being awarded a Life Membership when I retired in 2005 in recognition of my work in establishing the society. Much of the work involved contacting prospective and interested members and it was my job, among others, to set up a database of these. The inaugural meeting of the first elected committee took place in our lounge.

2002 was a very busy year for us as we also opened Queen Street Fine Arts, specialising in pastels, which we owned and operated for five years.

I set up the PANZ Postal Portfolios to enable pastelists to enjoy the work of others in their own homes. These portfolios are based on the same idea used with the Photographic Society of NZ.  As Director of National and International Portfolios on the National Judging panel, I could see no reason why the same system wouldn't work for pastelists.

Now fully retired, I'm able to enjoy my other love, writing. I am currently involved in writing a historical novel, have had several short stories published, and as a professional copy-editor and proof-reader, run a small business called 'Apostrophe 'S'. What else would one call it!