Patterson Parkin was born in London
and attended the Warwick School of Art where he received his
formative training in the study of art, specialising in drawing and
painting.
In 1964, Parkin was awarded the
prestigious MacKenty Award for Fine Arts in London. In 1967 he
attended the North East London Arts College where he studied Cubist
theory, applying its central tenets to the production of his work.
Shortly after completing his studies, Parkin immigrated to New
Zealand where he began to exhibit his work.
Moving between abstract and figurative work in a post-Cubist
style, Parkin's body of work has culminated in a form of
assemblage, whereby Parkin 'paints shapes'. These shaped canvases
and supports are Parkin's three-dimensional investigation into the
fracturing of two-dimensional space that the Cubist movement held
in such high regard as an artistic ideal.
Parkin has exhibited regularly throughout New Zealand in both
solo and group shows. He has also exhibited in France, England and
Australia and his work is held in private collections in New
Zealand, Australia, United Kingdom and the USA.