Early Life, Family and Training

William Greene enters the world in Australia in 1872. Two years later, the family moves to Dunedin, New Zealand. This relocation marks the beginning of a life shaped by the landscapes of the South Pacific and the formal traditions of Europe.

The pursuit of technical mastery takes him across the Tasman Sea. In 1900, Greene travels to Melbourne to study under the sculptor Charles Richardson. This period of study provides a foundation before his focus shifts toward the specialized discipline of animal painting. By 1905, he is in London, attending the Calderons School of Animal Painting in Kensington. Here, he works under the instruction of Briton Riviere and Sir Alfred East, refining his ability to capture form and life.

Europe is more than a classroom for Greene. While traveling through the continent, he meets Katrine Josefine Walchter. A Hungarian artist herself, she becomes his partner and eventually his wife in London. This connection links his personal life to the broader community of European artists, a bond forged amidst his formal training and his developing professional identity.

Artistic Activity in Timaru

Timaru becomes the center of Greene's professional life in 1894. He establishes his first studio in Bank Street, situated near the local Woollen Factory. This period marks a transition from his early years toward a structured career in the South Canterbury region. Before his eventual departure from the area, he moves his work into the public eye, displaying a large number of paintings in local shops and selling 25 works to the community.

The scale of his operations expands on 1 October 1896. In partnership with C.H.T. Sterndale, Greene opens an art school and studio within the Royal Arcade on Stafford Street. This establishment serves as a hub for local instruction and creative practice. His presence in the town remains significant for years, eventually leading to formal teaching roles. By 1912, he holds part-time positions at both Timaru Boys’ High School and the Timaru Technical College.

Key Works and Collections

Greene’s presence in major institutional collections highlights a career spent capturing specific landscapes and social realities. The Auckland Art Gallery holds The Crest of the Hill, an oil on canvas from 1912 measuring 54.3 cm by 91.1 cm. This work sits alongside his 1912 oil painting The Unemployed, a piece that captures a different facet of the era's social landscape. His ability to translate the environment onto canvas is further evidenced by Surrey Landscape, painted in 1909.

The Aigantighe Art Gallery Collection serves as a significant repository for his output, housing 13 paintings by the South Canterbury artist. Among these is Spring - South Canterbury Riverbed, an oil on canvas dating to about 1913. These works remain central to the regional record of his artistic output. His legacy is preserved through these specific holdings, which document his movement through different landscapes and his engagement with the subjects of his time.