About Artist Robert Scriven

Robert Scriven has been drawing and painting all his life. His early career involved a short but productive sojourn at an advertising agency where his illustrative talents were highly valued, after which the 22 year old Scriven left to form Scriven Art Studios, an advertising, design and print studio.

It was as a result of constantly pushing the envelope and endeavouring to produce ‘something different’ for his clients that Scriven, the designer, cartoonist and illustrator, developed a range of unique illustrative styles and techniques which contributed to the continuing success of his agency in the often times difficult, and deadline-driven world of advertising.

After many very successful years, Scriven decided that the time had come to pursue his true passion: producing fine art in both acrylic and oil.

In addition to his semi abstract and impressionistic work, Robert Scriven paints large scale, single blooms or leaves, exquisitely rendered in fine oil on board. 

They are unique in that while the edges of the pieces are cut to the shape of the flower or leaf, the support framework on the reverse of the board ensures that when hung, the work sits clear of the wall surface, creating an intriguing silhouette of shadows which plays on the realism of the subject. 

The works are amplified to many times life-size, leaving the artist scope for exploration of his subject in exquisite botanical detail and subtle nuances of vibrant colour. The keen attention to light and texture, further captures the delicate translucent qualities of his beautiful subjects which take several months to complete, reflecting Scriven’s demandingly high, self imposed standards.

“The striving for perfection takes time,” he responds when asked about his approach.

His works are in private collections worldwide, including New Zealand, Great Britain, Switzerland, UAE, Singapore, China, USA, Italy, Australia, and the Pacific Islands.

Today, Scriven paints full time from his studio in Auckland, New Zealand.