From Dilworth boy, to army man, milkman and barman to Adam Portraiture prize winner, over the last 15 years Stephen Martyn Welch has cemented his position as one of New Zealand’s premier portrait painters.
Born in a small rural farming town, bought up by his mother and three older sisters, Welch has roots grounded in the can do mentality that is quintessentially characteristic of small town New Zealand.
At age 11, he was shipped off to Dilworth School for boys, and Auckland became his home. Failing miserably at secondary school art, unsure of a career path outside of his love for drawing, Welch decided to do the most logical thing and join the New Zealand Army. During his time in the Army, Welch continued to hone his skills in sketching, a pastime that would lead to a determined resolve to break into the art world.