Biography

Nick Cuthell is a New Zealand artist exploring contemporary concerns through traditional media. He divides his time between the United Kingdom and New Zealand. His work is held in collections in London, New York, Geneva and Wellington. Nick has a well developed portrait practice and is available for commissions, he has also worked on large mural projects for a range of clients and has spent time teaching painting to students of all levels.

Notable projects include a commission to paint cast members of The Hobbit; the Reserve Bank of New Zealand commissioned Cuthell to paint their departing Governor Dr Alan Bollard in 2012; the artist's portraits of the cast of Waiting for Godot were exhibited at London's Theatre Royal Haymarket in 2009, the paintings subsequently toured with the production and were exhibited at the New Zealand Portrait Gallery in 2010. Cuthell's portrait Alexandra Chan was acknowledged with a Highly Commended Award in the 2012 Adam Portraiture Award at the New Zealand Portrait Gallery.  Cuthell's portrait of the writer Martin Sherman was reproduced for the cover of Tish Dace's Martin Sherman: Skipping over Quicksand published in 2012 by McFarland & Co.    

Founding Director of the The New Zealand Portrait Gallery Te Pūkenga Whakaata, Avenal McKinnon:  "While Nick Cuthell’s art is noted for its luscious brushwork and  sure colour harmonies, a sensitivity for composition combined with a fine  handling of light and shadow; he has that quality which defines a really good portrait artist – to be able to look into the heart of his subjects and paint that."

Cuthell's portrait of Her Majesty the Queen was unveiled in Wellington on April 10 2014 by their Royal Highnesses the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge during their visit to New Zealand,  the portrait is on public display in the New Zealand Portrait Gallery.

Training:

Charles Cecil Studios, Florence, 2007 –2009

The Art Students League of New York, New York, 2001 –2003

The Slade School of Fine Art, London, 2001

Selected Exhibitions:

Contemporary Figurative, Webbs, Wellington, NZ, 2023

Royal Society of Portrait Painters Annual Exhibition, Mall Galleries, London, UK, 2022

Portraits of Power/Portraits as Power, The New Zealand Portrait Gallery Te Pūkenga Whakaata, Wellington, NZ, 2021

A Cabinet of Curiosities, Brownsword Hepworth, London, UK, 2020

Arrows of Desire: For the Love of Saint Sebastian, The Horse Hospital, London, UK, 2019

An Eclectic Eye, Brownsword Hepworth, London, UK, 2019

Nick Cuthell - New Work, Brownsword Hepworth, London, UK, 2017

Adam Award for Portraiture, The New Zealand Portrait Gallery Te Pūkenga Whakaata, Wellington, New Zealand, 2016 (3rd place peoples choice)

Young Masters Art Prize, Cynthia Corbett Galleries, London, UK, 2014

Adam Award for Portraiture, The New Zealand Portrait Gallery Te Pūkenga Whakaata, Wellington, New Zealand, 2014

Summer Collection, Jonathan Grant Galleries, Auckland, New Zealand, 2012

Artbourne, Wellesley College, Wellington, New Zealand, 2012

Adam Award for Portraiture, The New Zealand Portrait Gallery Te Pūkenga Whakaata, Wellington and Touring, New Zealand, 2012 (Highly commended for 'Alexandra Chan')

The Lady in the Gilded Frame, Jonathan Grant Galleries, Auckland, New Zealand, 2011

Beginnings, The New Zealand Portrait Gallery Te Pūkenga Whakaata, Wellington, New Zealand, 2011

Cynthia Corbett Gallery - Young Masters, Sphinx Fine Art and the Old Truman Brewery, London UK 2010

Waiting for Godot - Portraits, The Fugard Theatre, Cape Town, South Africa, 2010

Waiting for Godot - Portraits, The New Zealand Portrait Gallery Te Pūkenga Whakaata, Wellington, New Zealand, 2010

The Big Rip Off - Fake Modern, The Camden Arts Centre, London, UK, 2010

Chic Dessin, l'Atelier Richelieu, Paris, France, 2010

Adam Award for Portraiture, The New Zealand Portrait Gallery Te Pūkenga Whakaata, Wellington and Touring, New Zealand, 2010

Waiting for Godot - Portraits, The Theatre Royal Haymarket, London, UK, 2009

Looking down the Barrel – The Face of New Zealand Wine, The New Zealand Portrait Gallery Te Pūkenga Whakaata, Wellington and Touring, New Zealand 2008

Adam Award for Portraiture, The New Zealand Portrait Gallery Te Pūkenga Whakaata, Wellington and Touring, New Zealand, 2008

Nick Cuthell – Recent Work, Millwood Gallery, Wellington, New Zealand, 2007

Adam Award for Portraiture,The New Zealand Portrait Gallery Te Pūkenga Whakaata, Wellington and Touring, New Zealand, 2006

Art Attack, Toi Whakaari, Wellington, New Zealand, 2004

Photo by Frederic Aranda