MERTON, Owen Heathcote Grierson RBA 1887–1931

Noted New Zealand watercolourist. Born Christchurch: educated page break page 169 Cathedral Grammar School and at Christ's College, leaving school at the age of fifteen. Received encouragement and help in painting watercolours from James Walsh, then Director of the Canterbury School of Art. Went to Europe c.1904 for two years, working under Flemish artist Charles van Havermaet, and attended for a time the Ealing Art School: returned to New Zealand and exhibited his work in 1906 in Wellington. Work greatly admired by D. K. Richmond who helped him to further his career. Exhibited in NZ International Ex Chch 1906–07. 1908 left again for England, exhibited with the Royal Society of British Artists and elected RBA; attended the Colarossi Academy and afterwards entered Tudor Hart's studio. In 1911 an exhibition of his work was arranged in Christchurch but Merton remained abroad, in 1916 travelling in the USA with his American wife, showing work at many leading exhibitions. Returned to Europe 1924 and visited Algiers: held one man shows at the Leicester Gallery, London in 1925 and 1928, exhibiting intermittently in New Zealand. He died in London after a long illness. His son was the Trappist monk Thomas Merton. Exhibited: CSA from Christchurch and from Europe 1907–15; NZ Academy of Fine Arts Wtn. Work included in Centennial Ex Wtn 1940. Represented: major New Zealand galleries and Hocken.