Gus Milne - The Cressy ScrimshawI'm a scrimshander based in New Zealand, working entirely with materials sourced legally and sustainably, including recycled ivory piano keys, fossilized walrus tusk, mammoth ivory and whale’s teeth.
My interest in all things nautical led me to creating model ships in lightbulbs and bottles, and winning several ship modelling awards while living in the USA in the late 1970’s. I soon began collecting whales' teeth from auctions and antique shops and started to develop skills in scrimshanding on beef bone through thousands of hours of experimentation and practice. Visits to the HMS Victory, USS Constitution, Charles W Morgan, and other sailing ships, together with scrimshaw galleries and museums in Hawaii, Marthas Vineyard, New Bedford and San Francisco reinforced my interest and knowledge of the old ships which is essential in scrimshaw, also known as the 'Whalers' Art'. Awards
2025 - Supreme Winner, Craigs Aspiring Art Prize
2024 - Wanaka Art Exhibition Award 2024 - Best in Show, Houseof Travel/Rotary Artarama 2024 - Survus Award, Malvern Community Arts Council 2024 - Millbrook Award, Bayleys Arrowtown Autumn Arts 2023 - Wanaka Art Exhibition Award 2023 - Business Merit Award, Malvern Community Arts Council 2023 - Ashburton Society of Arts Award 2022 - Business Award, Malvern Community Arts Council |
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RECENT PROJECTS
Recent Projects
I thought I might expand my keyboard 'repertoire'. Here's the paddle steamer 'Lyttelton' arriving in Lyttelton Harbour from Heathcote with a cargo of wool mid-1864, prior to the rail tunnel construction. The tiny ship took 462 days to sail from London, arriving in Wellington on the 23rd of November 1860. By then it had been written off as lost and the insurance paid out.
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[email protected]
Christchurch, New Zealand |