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EASTWOOD, James 1841–1937

Born Kentish Town, London, eldest son of amateur painter William Eastwood. Arrived Auckland 1863 with his father and the rest of the family, and travelled about the country. Was in Lyttelton 1863 and in the Otago gold diggings probably the same year. Went to Australia probably when he received trust money after his father's death in 1877. Most of his work there is undated but he was in Tweed 1882, and in 1891 accepted a commission through a stock agent to paint views of some farms and was told that his watercolours of Mt. Carson Gold Mine were to be published in the Graphic. Returned to New Zealand and lived in Onehunga, then in Panmure where he owned land. Was a prolific painter of small detailed watercolours, many of historic value. One has been reproduced as a card for St. Mathias Church, Panmure; one (mistakenly attributed to William Eastwood) in The New Zealand Heritage. Exhibited: ASA 1914–18. Represented: ACAG, and watercolours attributed to him are in Turnbull.