Biography

Gus Milne is a scrimshander based in New Zealand - he is also a recent grand prizewinner of the Craig's Aspiring Art Prize.

He works entirely with materials sourced legally and sustainably, including recycled ivory piano keys, fossilized walrus tusk, mammoth ivory and whale's teeth. His interest in all things nautical led him 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 Gus' 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 2025 -

Wanaka Art Exhibition Award 2024 - Best in Show,

House of 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

‍

‍

‍

Gus' beautiful work really has to be seen in the flesh to be appreciated -intricate, hand-etched works.