Richard Adams was born in London

London

London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...

 and migrated to New Zealand. He is a New Zealand

New Zealand

New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...

 jazz violinist, abstract artist, poet, and actor.

Adams was taught violin by his mother. By the time he left school at 16 he was playing in the Wellington Symphonia. He auditioned for the National Orchestra trainee section but failed because of his poor sight-reading, having learned by ear.

In 1989 Adams and John Quigley formed the Nairobi Trio. The trio consists of Adams (violin/vocals), Quigley (guitar/vocals), and Peter Koopman (bass/vocals). They play improvised jazz and re-worked standard jazz pieces. They are best known for their original pieces. On tour they perform as a quartet with Andrew Dixon on saxophones/flute/vocals. The trio's name was chosen as a bit of a joke because none of the members came from Nairobi

Nairobi

Nairobi is the capital and largest city of Kenya. The city and its surrounding area also forms the Nairobi County. The name "Nairobi" comes from the Maasai phrase Enkare Nyirobi, which translates to "the place of cool waters". However, it is popularly known as the "Green City in the Sun" and is...

.

Adams received critical acclaim with the jazz group Neon Quaver. He played with his own Richard Adams Quartet and flautist Paul Horn

Paul Horn

Paul Horn is the name of:*Paul Horn , jazz flutist*Paul Horn , American computer scientist...

 at the Wellington International Arts Festival.

In 1977 Adams co-scripted, co-produced, and co-directed New Zealand Feature Film Artman which was released at Wellington Film Festival in July 1979. In 1979 he also published Translations, a book of poems and etchings.

From 1982 to 1988 Adams was head scenic artist for the NZ Film Industry. In 1988 he co-founded Pro Art which specialised in commissioned artworks and sculptural pieces.

Adams first studio in 1979 was the dome that was built in the garden at Rita Angus'

Rita Angus

Rita Angus was a New Zealand painter born in Hastings. Along with Colin McCahon and Toss Woollaston, she is credited as one of the leading figures in twentieth century New Zealand art...

 cottage in Wellington before it became a residence for painters. Adams worked in the kitchen. When he moved to Auckland he rented the Gillies Ave studio that belonged to painter Louise Henderson

Louise Henderson

Dame Louise Etiennette Sidonie Henderson, DBE was a New Zealand artist and painter.Born in Paris, she was raised there and it was there she met her future husband Hubert Henderson, a New Zealander. Hubert returned to New Zealand in 1923 and proposed to Louise, but propriety demanded that a single...

. Later he worked in writer Barry Crump's

Barry Crump

Barry John Crump MBE was a New Zealand author of semi-autobiographical comic novels based on his image as a rugged outdoors man...

 former bach in Devonport.

Adams first exhibited his works in 1982 at the Molesworth Gallery in Wellington. Since then his work has been exhibited in Tokyo, Sydney, New York, London and more recently at Gallery Thirty Three in Wanaka, The Arthouse in Christchurch, and the McPherson Gallery in Auckland.

In 2004 Adams was appointed Resident Artist, Chambre Avec Vue, Saignon

Saignon

Saignon is a commune in the Vaucluse department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region in southeastern France.The nearest town is Apt.There is a bakery/cafe, two restaurants, and a general store. The school has about 100 students, and is attached to the post office.-History:The area was first...

, France.

External links

• Diversion Gallery bio
• Nairobi Trio website
• http://www.richardadams.co.nz/ Richard Adams website]