John Sturgess — Painter in Lower Hutt, New Zealand

John Sturgess makes paintings at home in Taita, Lower Hutt, New Zealand. Space, wild seas, flying machines and mushroom houses all find a place in his work.

Ideas come while he’s watching television or sitting in a café, and he paints what catches his attention. Some pictures record journeys he’s made, with dates and notes written into them. Others take him somewhere imagined.

He began painting in early 2013. In 2024, three of his works were included in The Mongoose and the Snake at Jhana Millers Gallery in Wellington. About John

John’s paintings often return to the things that fascinate him: lightning, tsunamis, the sea and the vastness of space. Some skies have eyes looking back. Much of his space work is simply about the wonder of what’s out there.

The archive currently holds 14 paintings. Shared traits, including Space, Nature and Transport, offer different ways through them. Each painting has its own full photograph and record. Explore the archive

Gizmo is John’s teddy bear and lifelong companion. His full title is OBE PhD PI: professional idiot. John loves telling people this and often cracks up in the telling.

Gizmo also has a life in the paintings, with adventures of his own. Meet Gizmo

John’s home is also his studio. Paintings hang on the walls and model planes sit on the shelves. He works at a small table in the kitchen, surrounded by the things he likes to paint.

Allan’s photographs show John at work and at home, along with a few details from the studio. Studio