Anthony (A.D.) Blake

A.D. Blake's paintings vary from portrayals of thoroughly researched historic harbor and ocean yachting events to the present day Americas Cup. Blake has an innate sense of being able to capture the feeling of the light, the atmosphere and the interaction of the yachts, water and sky. This is complemented by the accurate and intricate details of the yachts.

One of the world's foremost marine artists, Blake's thorough understanding of the sea is the result of having spent most of his life on the coast of New Zealand. He was a nationally competitive racer and has designed some of his own boats. He still actively races small boats and cruises in his yacht around New Zealand and internationally.

Many private and corporate collectors in the U.S.A., Canada, British Virgin Islands, Britain and New Zealand have acquired Blake’s works. Notably, to celebrate their 150th anniversary, the New York Yacht Club commissioned him to produce a painting of the Club's first regatta on the Hudson River; one of Blake's historic paintings has been bought by the Herreshoff Maritime Museum in Bristol, Rhode Island and the Storm Trysail Yacht Club, among others, has commissioned him several times to produce paintings.

Some of A.D.Blake's paintings are featured in the book Yachts on Canvas by James Taylor, the assistant curator of paintings in the Greenwich National Maritime Museum in London. Three of his paintings were reproduced in the official America's Cup Program (for the 1999/2000 regattas). Also, one of his paintings was used in the program for the prestigious Cowes Jubilee Regatta to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the America's Cup race.

Having graduated from Auckland University Engineering School with an award for the top Master's Degree (MEng.1st Class Honors) in 1975, Blake has since left his career as a Civil Engineer and has devoted his time to his maritime paintings.