Johnny Groome, Artist
Johnny (born in Nelson in 1973) has lived on the West Coast of the South Island most of his life. He is a self taught painter starting at the age of 18. Originally inspired by a love of trout fishing, hunting chamois and deer on the alpine tops of various mountain ranges has given him the inspiration to produce many challenging artworks depicting animals in there ruggid alpine environment. He is fascinated with the details of rocks together with soft windswept tussocks and exciting backdrops. His animals are often centrepoint in his beautiful alpine scenes. As too, is his stunning depictions of Brown and Rainbow trout.
Environmental degradation from various mining and agricultural business gives him the 'fuel' to depict what he believes should be most important to us all - the environment around us and the animals in which we share it. I hope by investing substantial time and effort into a picture, the viewer may repay efforts exerted by allowing just a little time to reflect upon the subject at hand - be it a trout swimming in a stream or a digger digging it up. As such Johnny is hopeful that his work can sway people more towards the conservation of what treasure we already behold, and away from a short sighted mentality so prevalant in our modern society today where money and development so often take precedence over (almost) even life itself.
