Neon creations the work of a lifetime

Although the neon on which he has worked his whole working life keeps flickering away, Dunedin glass-blower Trevor Hellyer is about to hang up his tools.

His neon creations have been given a facelift as a visual addition to a new photographic collection by Dunedin photographic artist Chris Gable, called "Shopkeeping", at the Settlers Museum in the Queens Gardens.

Mr Hellyer has been working with neon since 1965 and has been responsible for such Dunedin neon landmarks as the Bartons the Butcher's pigs, and the Fresh Freddy fish shop's green neon sign.

"I didn't think that they would ever last this long," he said.

The beginning of his career came at Claude Neon back in 1963, where, as a junior, he got his big break in the neon business.

"I was a bit of a naughty boy and used to annoy the guys there, then one of them asked me if I wanted to do it, then I took to it like a duck to water," he said.

Keeping him in the industry all these years has been the sense of personal satisfaction that comes with seeing your work displayed, not only in collections like Mr Gables', but publicly around Dunedin and the South Island, he said.

"It's very satisfying forming things with your hands. It gives you a lot of personal satisfaction."

However, this long and productive history has been cut short, with Mr Hellyer having to retire from a the neon business due to health reasons.

With that in mind Mr Gable's visually stunning collection will be the last time that Mr Hellyer, who is installing the neon pieces, will work on his glowing art.

"I am retiring next week so this will be the last time that I work on them."

Far from washing his hands of neon upon his retirement, he intends to visit the mecca of neon in the form of the shimmering neon star that is Las Vegas.

"In my retirement I intend to go to Las Vegas and we're going to go and see the signs."

- Tim Cossens.