Spontaneous creations by Patrick Tyman

Napier artist Patrick Tyman's major solo exhibition in Hastings is a journey through the major influences in his life.

The exhibition, 15 15 15: A Cross-Cultural Journey, features work from three major 15-year periods, starting with his time in his birthplace, England, moving to India where he spent his formative years on tea estates, and finishing with his work here.

After completing his formal art education in England, Tyman taught art and design at secondary schools there before immigrating to New Zealand in 1996. Head of art at Iona College in Havelock North, his work ranges from landscapes in gouache and oil, oil paintings, and intricate silk screen prints which consist of 10 or more layers of colour.

The exhibition includes his most recent series of Hawke's Bay landscapes.

"I never visualise a picture before I start, I just let it happen from impulse, I don't make plans, I live in the moment," Tyman says.

His exhibitions include Surveying Eden, a selection of screen prints at the Hastings City Art Gallery in 2009.

He served on the advisory committee for the gallery from its opening in 2008 until last year.

Also locally he has had work in the Norsewear Art Award, Hawke's Bay Review and Invitational, East 2012, Puti Puti, Mind Games, and nationally, had work selected for the Wallace Art Awards.

He also lectured in art history for the Havelock North Community Education Programme and the Creative Hawke's Bay Lecture Series.

The country's climate, light and lifestyle have helped him further develop his art ideas, with New Zealand's landscape features, flora and fauna integrating with his love of the Indian sub-continent.

15 15 15: A Cross-Cultural Journey, Hastings Community Arts Centre, to February 2. Patrick Tyman will give a floor talk and screenprinting demonstration at noon on Saturday. For more info, visit www.patricktymanart.com.