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Wilson, Chris; photographer
Biography
BiographyHis death notice appeared in the August 20, 2003 'Leader; the next issue covered his career and funeral.
He had started a silk-screening and signwriting business at 17; then became a window dresser and display design artist at Wellington's D.I.C department store (originally the Direct Importing Company). Then he and his brother Stephens opened Carr Signs in Wanganui.
He organised what was at the time New Zealand's largest motor show and had stands at trade fairs (according to a nephew, selling thousands of birds of paradise created by moulding bottles); the nephew also said he had also pioneered screen-printing tee-shirts.
When he returned to the Hutt Valley he took up flower growing, and was breeding dahlia tubers for export to America.
Fishing was a passion; he bought a house in the Marlborough Sounds as a base for trips for friends and family.
He got a job as a rep for breweries by producing a mock newspaper which pointed out how much more profitable the company would be if it employed him. There, he was involved in introducing Steinlager beer during the Australian America's Cup defence in Fremantle.
In the early 1990s he began working at Naenae College, teaching art, photography and transition classes, and later also tutored evening classes.
At the same time, he took on casual work for the 'Leader', mainly at weekends and in summer; sometimes with his students.
In 1995 he joined Heretaunga College as a photography tutor for their night classes, and started his Wellington Foto School.
His death was sudden; a brain haemorrhage. He had trained hundreds of students, including 'Leader' staff, and had recently acquired a digital camera.
He had started a silk-screening and signwriting business at 17; then became a window dresser and display design artist at Wellington's D.I.C department store (originally the Direct Importing Company). Then he and his brother Stephens opened Carr Signs in Wanganui.
He organised what was at the time New Zealand's largest motor show and had stands at trade fairs (according to a nephew, selling thousands of birds of paradise created by moulding bottles); the nephew also said he had also pioneered screen-printing tee-shirts.
When he returned to the Hutt Valley he took up flower growing, and was breeding dahlia tubers for export to America.
Fishing was a passion; he bought a house in the Marlborough Sounds as a base for trips for friends and family.
He got a job as a rep for breweries by producing a mock newspaper which pointed out how much more profitable the company would be if it employed him. There, he was involved in introducing Steinlager beer during the Australian America's Cup defence in Fremantle.
In the early 1990s he began working at Naenae College, teaching art, photography and transition classes, and later also tutored evening classes.
At the same time, he took on casual work for the 'Leader', mainly at weekends and in summer; sometimes with his students.
In 1995 he joined Heretaunga College as a photography tutor for their night classes, and started his Wellington Foto School.
His death was sudden; a brain haemorrhage. He had trained hundreds of students, including 'Leader' staff, and had recently acquired a digital camera.
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Date of Birth7th June 1943Place of BirthLower HuttDate of Death14th August 2003Place of DeathUpper HuttSexMale
Place of BirthLower HuttDate of Death14th August 2003Place of DeathUpper HuttSexMaleFamily
ChildGregorySiblingHelen BeynonStephen Wilson
SiblingHelen BeynonStephen WilsonWilson, Chris; photographer. Upper Hutt City Library, accessed 05/12/2025, https://uhcl.recollect.co.nz/nodes/view/23823