Richard Wallwork taught at Liverpool City School of Art and in 1910 was recruited to teach at the Canterbury College School of Art in Christchurch in New Zealand.
20 Facts About Richard Wallwork
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Richard Wallwork moved there with his wife Elizabeth Wallwork and established a reputation as a respected teacher and eventually rose to become director of the college.
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Richard Wallwork had a prodigious output of landscapes of Canterbury and historical works of classic and Maori legends as well as taking commissions for portraits.
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Richard Wallwork died in Christchurch at the age of 73.
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Richard Wallwork was born on 2 January 1882 at Stretford in Lancashire into a large family.
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Richard Wallwork's father, named Richard Wallwork, was married to Mary and worked in leather goods.
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The Wallwork family were cautious with their finances, even more so when Wallwork's father died in 1897.
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Richard Wallwork's mother had to take up sewing for income while Wallwork himself was working as well for the benefit of the family.
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Richard Wallwork was an excellent student, earning first class honours in a number of subjects and several cash awards and scholarships.
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Richard Wallwork then attended the Royal College of Art on a scholarship and became a valued student teacher working with Gerald Moira.
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Richard Wallwork took courses in mural and decorative painting, etching and engraving, art history, and architecture while at the college.
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Herdman Smith was familiar with Richard Wallwork's art, having the previous year purchased his mural of Robert the Bruce from the Royal College of Art, as well as his reputation as a good teacher.
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Richard Wallwork accepted the role and the couple departed for New Zealand in December 1910.
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Richard Wallwork's output included Canterbury landscapes, depictions of scenes of classic and Maori legends, as well as portraits.
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Richard Wallwork had been exempted from service during the war because of medical reasons.
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At the Canterbury College School of Art, Richard Wallwork taught not just painting but etching and established a reputation as a respected teacher.
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In 1928 Richard Wallwork was appointed as director of the School of Art following the retirement of his predecessor.
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Richard Wallwork retired as director of the college at the end of 1945 but carried out teaching in a part-time role for a further three years.
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Richard Wallwork died in Christchurch on 14 April 1955 at the age of 73, survived by Elizabeth and a daughter.
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Richard Wallwork's wife organised a posthumous exhibition of over 100 of his works the following year.