MERTON, OWEN HEATHCOTE GRIERSON (1887-1931) was born in Christchurch, the son of Alfred J. Merton, and was educated at the Cathedral Grammar School and Christ's College (1895-1903). He was fond of music and also showed a disposition and talent for drawing, for which he entered at the Christchurch School of Art and studied under Alfred Walsh (q.v.). At the age of 17 he visited England and met John Hassall, who placed him for tuition under the Flemish artist Charles van Havennaet. With him Merton made tours in England and Holland. He also attended the Ealing Art School. When he returned to New Zealand in 1906 he was taken up by Miss D. K. Richmond, one of his pictures was acquired for the permanent collection at Wellington and he studied with Walsh again. In 1908 he returned to England, exhibited at the Royal Society of British Artists and was elected R.B.A. In 1910 he attended Colarossi's school in Paris, and in 1911 his mother organised an exhibition of his work in Christchurch. In 1914 he married Ruth (d. 1922) daughter of S. Jenkins, of Long Island, U.S.A. He lived in France until the war. This calamity rendered him artistically helpless, and he went to the United States and became a gardener and then a horticultural designer. He returned to painting in 1922 after the death of his wife. Merton held two exhibitions at the Leicester Galleries in London. His sense of design and delicacy of touch reflected his love for Chinese masters, and he showed much strength and individuality. He died on 18 Jan 1931.

Christ's Coll. List; Art in New Zealand, vol 2, 229; The Times, 21 Jan 1931.

Reference: Volume 2, page 274

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