Provenance: Collection of the Artist's Estate

William James Reed 1908-1996, was born in Christchurch, attended Canterbury School of Art with Rita Angus and tutors Archibald Nicoll and John Weeks. On leaving school he worked at Whitcombe & Tombs as a commercial artist forming a life long freindship with fellow artist Russell Clark.

Whilst with the Army Medical Corps in the Pacific from 1942-1944, Reed served as unofficial war artist. On returning home he taught for almost thirty years at Dunedin School of Art. Known as a gifted tutor and artist, his pupils included Stanley Palmer and the late Ralph Hotere.