James Nairn

[1] Nairn studied at the Glasgow School of Art for four years from 1879 before enrolling as a student at the Académie Julian in Paris.

He introduced Impressionism of the Glasgow school to New Zealand and influenced other New Zealand artists such as Dorothy Kate Richmond, Maud Winifred Sherwood, Mabel Hill, Maude Burge and Mollie Tripe.

He painted this landscape en plein air to more truthfully capture the effect of light on water.

Nairn joined the New Zealand Academy of Fine Arts soon after settling in Wellington and was elected to the council from 1890 to 1903.

He also formed the Wellington Art Club which met regularly at Nair's Pumpkin Cottage.

Group portrait of students at the Wellington School of Design . James Nairn and Mabel Hill at far left. Woman posing with skeleton's arm around her shoulder is Mary Elizabeth Tripe.