Trevor James Askin

Category Three: Nationally Recognised Notable New Zealanders

Date of birth

6 December 1942

Parents

Arthur Kidd Askin and Lucy Rebecca Askin

Married

Elizabeth Morgan in 1967

Children

Simon and Jeremy

Education

  • Waituna Primary School
  • Waimate High School
  • Two short courses on casting techniques at the Canterbury School of Art

Career

  • Farming, boatbuilding, horticulture.
  • Began sculpting in 1980. Has his own studio, foundry and gallery. During the first few years of his sculpting career Trevor worked mainly on representational sculpture a necessary discipline for any artist, however after about five years he found himself developing a more free and flowing style of sculpture which is unique to him. He calls this unique style 'curvilinear' and these works are widely sought after by collectors. His 'curvilinear' pieces are oneoff sculptures he does not have a master mould for any of these works. He does his own casting with certified bronze ingots using the 'cire perdue' (lost wax) method in ceramic shell moulds.
  • International commissions include nine bronze trophies for the 1995 World Gliding Championships and a bronze centrepiece for the 10th World Rose Convention in 1994, the latter is installed in the Rose Garden at the Mona Vale public gardens in Christchurch.
  • Commissioned by the Timaru Beautifying Society to sculpt the 'Paperboy' a lifesize bronze installed in the city of Timaru in 1997. Commissioned by The Blacksmith Memorial Committee to create a threequarter lifesize bronze sculpture of a blacksmith which was installed at Orari in January 2006 in recognition of the pioneers of the Orari District.
  • His works are in private collections in the United States, Canada, England, Switzerland, Japan, Netherlands, Germany, Australia, Singapore, Hong Kong, Korea, France and New Zealand.
  • Exhibits regularly at the New Zealand Academy of Fine Arts exhibitions. Has been Guest Artist at the Otago Art Society, South Canterbury Art Society and the Ashburton Society of Arts.

Honours

  • WestpacTrust Art Award 1998, 2002 and 2006
  • Cleveland Art Awards Mayoral Award 1997, 1998 and 2000
  • Eight South Canterbury Art Society Merit Awards
  • An elected Artist Member of the New Zealand Academy of Fine Arts

Last updated: 16 Sep 2021