ARTIST • INVENTOR • CONSERVATIONIST • DRUMMER
Phillip Waddington
Artist
Phillip came from an artistic and musical family on his mother’s side. An uncle gave him art lessons at a very early age and playing music and singing was a norm in the wider family.
School friends bought drawings from him at the age of ten. Also at this age he lost sight in his right eye through a childhood accident.
Inventor
Phillip sold most of his artworks in the 1990s to save 57 acres of pre- European forest located in Stokes Valley, Wellington
He was wanting to save it from development housing.
He was then faced with the huge task of caring for this land (kaitiaki) and controlling the predators of the native wildlife within.
Conservationist
Phillip, at a very young age of 4 started keeping and breeding birds. Along with a typical NZ lifestyle of spending time in his local native forest and at the beach — he had an early appreciation of nature.
This was a source of inspiration for his early drawings. A highlight of his early teens was finding a previously undiscovered hybrid between two NZ native butterflies – and realising its significance.
Drummer
Phillip finds a great deal of joy and release from the discipline of painting by performing live as the drummer in one of Wellington's most popular covers bands – 'Nightmoves'. Originally beginning his musical career as a founder member of the band 'Pogal' back in the early '70s, Phillip continues to entertain audiences with his rock solid drumming style and valuable contribution to the vocal aspect of the band.
In 2013, Phillip was the recipient of the 'Environmental' Wellingtonian of the Year Award.
The Dominion Post, Wellington NZ
