Iwen Yong
I came to New Zealand when I was 6 years old and I grew up in the Hutt Valley. I graduated from Victoria University and started my career as an accountant. I have always had an interest in art but did not have the opportunity to pursue art early on. It was a work colleague (after seeing a whiteboard drawing I had done of my dog) who introduced me to oil painting. Since that time I have been progressing my skills mainly through books, DVDs and workshops. Most recently I sought the help of a well established NZ artist who has helped me progress immensely.
I paint a variety of subjects but I specialise predominately in landscapes and rural / farming scenes. I would describe my painting style as 'painterly realism'. I try to be expressive and bold with my brushwork to create a sense of movement in my paintings.
I have been a full time artist since 2021 and I regularly exhibit in galleries across the Wellington region and most recently a few galleries in the South Island. I have won multiple awards and I am also a member of the NZ academy of fine arts.
NZ artists who influence my works include John Crump, Douglas Badcock and Peter McIntyre.