This two-part oral history interview with Sir Grahame Sydney offers a fascinating reflection on the life, work and ideas of Central Otago’s most celebrated artist. The conversation traces Sir Grahame’s journey from his childhood in Dunedin, where a love of drawing was encouraged from an early age, through his school years, university studies and brief teaching career, to his emergence as a full-time painter in the 1970s.
Sir Grahame recalls the people who influenced him, his formative experiences in England, and the return home that confirmed his deep connection to the landscapes of Central Otago. He discusses the development of his artistic practice, the role of photography, his use of egg tempera painting, and the challenges and rewards of building a career as an artist.
The interview also explores Sir Grahame’s collaborations with writers Brian Turner and Owen Marshall on the book Timeless Land, which has become a New Zealand classic, and his Antarctic journeys that led to the photographic book White Silence. Alongside these creative achievements, he reflects candidly on environmental campaigns, his commitment to protecting Central Otago’s distinctive landscapes, and his thoughts on New Zealand identity, culture and belonging.
Together, these discussions provide a thoughtful and deeply personal insight into the experiences, passions and enduring legacy of Sir Grahame Sydney.
Interviewer: Rosemary Riddell
Interview Dates: July 2026
Hinterland, 1998
Fortress Falls Dam, 2021
Crossroads, 2020
Grahame Sydney self portrait, 2024
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