Artist.

My name is James Barnett, I have been fishing and drawing most of my life. Wilderness Trout is a nice way to bring these elements together and share with others.

Artistic inspiration.
It is the extraordinary wild trout that live in the Taupo fishery and the experiences I have while fishing for them, that provide inspiration for Wilderness Trout.

Creative application.
I experiment with traditional and digital mediums. Pencil drawing is the foundation to most of my artwork – it provides a solid platform allowing me to test out ideas before deciding how to complete the piece. Head over to the Gallery to see examples of my art and illustration work.

Career.
I studied at The Winchester School of Art and The Southampton Institute of Technology before shaping a career in commercial design and communication. Over time, my work increasingly became strategic and eventually I returned to education to lead university computer graphic design courses in both the UK and New Zealand. I then returned to professional practice, spending a decade overseeing design and communications for a national charitable trust.

Current work.
My current role allows me to combine a passion for trout fishing with the professional skills I’ve accumulated throughout my career. The last 5 years I have worked for the Department of Conservation, Taupo Fishery Management Team. This work has provided an unparalleled insight into the Taupo Trout Fishery, where decades of fishery science and technical monitoring underpin fishery management decisions.