GAY Guysers-Gazette-Issue9.pdf

Wayne Mullineaux, aka Willow, is a watercolour artist and former butler to the rich and
famous. Kiwi born Willow, has spent much of his life living and working in Europe and the UK,
but now resides in Rotorua producing wonderful watercolour paintings.
After leaving school at the age of 15 I started
training as a hairdresser which was my
profession until I was in my mid-50s.
When I was 23 I moved to Berlin where I lived
and worked for 17 years.
My parents then summoned me back home to
New Zealand claiming they were getting older
and needed me, but when I left Europe and
returned home, they then separated. Doh!
Whangarei then became my home until my
mother passed away. I then followed my dream
and desire of moving to London.
Thinking about a change in career, I was
attracted by an ad for the London-based
Ivor Spencer Butler School. I’d always been
fascinated by royal teas, etiquette and decorum.
The classroom was in the Dorchester Hotel,
I absolutely loved it!
After my butler training was complete I took
positions in London, Germany and Austria.
In London I found myself in the crème de la
crème of butler jobs, overseeing the penthouse
suite at Claridge’s (Mayfair’s most exclusive
hotel), working for Royalty such as the Queen
Mother and Princess Diana and the rich and
famous such as Madonna. When Madonna was
staying at Claridge’s, all the windows had to be
covered to keep her out of sight of paparazzi
in helicopters!
Buddhism has always fascinated me as long
as I can recall. During my time spent in London
I attended classes at the Buddhist Centre.
I’m not a practicing Buddhist, I just try to follow
the inner meaning and except it’s beliefs in my
daily life.
The opportunity to visit Thailand 6 years ago
changed my life. I immediately felt as though I
had come home. I could almost picture myself
being a practicing monk in one of the many
temples.
I always love returning to Thailand – the whole
Buddhist mentality, the wonderful food, the
warmth, the men, and all those fabulous
lady-boys! My love of colour came to its full
appreciation and potential there.
I started to learn painting when I was 24 living
in Berlin doing night classes. I painted in oils,
and also did charcoal, but some how it never
really satisfied my thirst for colour.
Returning to New Zealand, I lived in Christchurch
and took classes with an art colour therapist
at the Steiner School. This is was what I was
searching my whole life for – colour! I learnt to
completely let go of all my past ridged rules
and to step in to the light, channelling my
expression to let the water colours paint.
My Buddhism-influenced mantra is “colour is
my life and life is delicious colour”.
Moving on from Christchurch I travelled around
New Zealand looking for a place to settle.
I decided on Rotorua as it is central, beautiful,
the housing is still affordable, and for me it’s a
very spiritual place. I love it here!
It was Romanian gypsies who gave me the
name ‘Willow’. They said it was because I was so
tall and flexible!
When I’m in my little world of painting, I work
on the kitchen table and don’t usually begin
until 11pm. I always begin with a glass of water,
for I believe water is what wakes my inspiration.
Over the last few years I’ve held exhibitions in
Dunedin and Christchurch. I also sold a few of
my paintings at a recent charity fundraiser in
Rotorua for the Geyser Foundation and I’ve also
been selling my art over in Thailand.
Continued over...
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Guysers Gazette 17