Early Life, Family and Training

Charles Howorth was born in Dunedin on 2 January 1856. He was the son of George Howorth and Sarah Mottram, growing up in a landscape that would later become a frequent subject of his sketches and paintings. His early years in New Zealand were marked by a steady academic path, beginning at the South Dunedin district school. It was there that he first showed a hint of the discipline that would define his later life, earning the High School rector’s prize in 1869.

Following his time in primary school, Charles Howorth continued his education at Otago Boys’ High School. He attended the school from 1870 to 1872, a period of formative years spent in the Otago region. While his later life would be defined by his dual identity as an engineer and a painter, his upbringing in Dunedin provided the foundational stability of a settled family life. He was part of a lineage that included notable figures, such as his grandfather, the British engraver Charles Mottram, and his uncle, the politician Henry Howorth.

Professional Career and Art Societies

While many remember him for his paintings, Howorth spent much of his working life as an engineer. During the first twenty years of his adulthood, he held a position with the Southland County. His technical expertise led him to serve as the County engineer for the Invercargill County Council from 1880 until early 1908. This practical, structured career provided a steady foundation while he pursued his interest in art in his own time.

His commitment to the local art community was deeply felt. In 1893, he became a co-founder of the Invercargill Art Society, helping to establish a space for creative expression in the region. Later, after moving to Wanganui, he became an early member of the Wanganui Arts and Crafts Society. His presence in these circles showed a man dedicated to the growth of art in New Zealand, even as he balanced his professional duties.

Howorth's technical work eventually took him to the Wanganui Harbour Board, where he served as an engineer from March 1908 until September 1917. Even amidst these responsibilities, his work found its way into the public eye. He was a regular exhibitor at the New Zealand Academy of Fine Arts between 1897 and 1911, sharing his observations of the landscape with a wider audience.

Artistic Style and Technique

Howorth was a landscape painter who approached his craft with the spirit of an enthusiastic amateur. He did not paint for a living, but rather found time to sketch and paint the scenery found on the outskirts of his various residencies. His work often captured the physical environment he encountered during his travels, from the rugged coastlines to the high, snow-capped mountains. He had a habit of observing the world closely, translating the immediate surroundings of his homes into visual records.

He was equally competent in both watercolour and oil mediums, moving between the two with ease. His skill in watercolour is evident in his depictions of remote locations, such as a boat jetty on Stewart Island. When working in oils, he focused on the natural textures of the New Zealand landscape. His ability to handle different materials allowed him to document the changing light and terrain of the places he lived, whether in the valleys of the South Island or the coastal areas near Wanganui.

• The Buller Gorge
• Alma, Belmont
• The Dart Valley, Wakatipu
• Lake Rere, Wakatipu
• Clinton Canyon

Travels and Later Years

After moving to Wanganui around 1912, Howorth continued to find inspiration through travel. Between February 1913 and September 1913, he spent time in England and Europe, where he had previously studied harbour construction. His connection to the landscape remained a constant throughout his life, often driving him to seek out new vistas through long excursions and coastal voyages.

His later years saw significant movement across the globe. From July 1919 until February 1921, he returned to England, spending time painting in Cornwall and Devon. In 1922, he traveled to Jamaica to visit his son, who was working there as an architect. Following his retirement from his engineering duties in 1917, he moved to Wellington, where he could devote more time to his painting.

Howorth’s final years were spent in Silverstream, Upper Hutt, after his wife passed away in 1933. He made his last overseas trip in 1937. He died in August 1945.