Toss Woollaston

Born 11 April1910, in Toko, in Taranaki. Full name - Mountford Tosswill Woolaston.
At first wanted to be a poet, but after moving to Nelson began painting.
Studied art at Canterbury School of Art, and began a life-long friendship with the poet Ursula Bethell.
Moved to Dunedin to study with R N Field, and became interested in `modernism', and work by artists such as Cezanne.
In 1934 settled at Mapua, near Nelson, and met Flora Scales, whose paintings and art studies influenced his work in turn, as he experimented with form and colour.
Married Edith Alexander in 1936. They lived in a mud house built by Woollaston, and on his earnings working in the horticultural industry. They became part of a circle of Nelson-based artists and writers, including Colin McCahon.
In 1949 shifted to Greymouth to work as a Rawleigh's door-to-door salesman, selling household products. His artwork was strongly influenced by the West Coast landscape, with his paintings growing in size and developing a feeling of spaciousness.
Was commissioned to paint a number of portraits in the 1960s, and began to paint full-time, moving back to Nelson (to Riwaka) in 1968.
Recognised as one of New Zealand's leading painters. Described by the writer Charles Brasch as "one of the first to see and paint New Zealand as a New Zealander".
Wrote The far-away hills (1960), and his autobiography, Sage tea (1980).
Was made a knight batchelor in 1979.
Died 30 August 1998 in Upper Moutere.