Artist's portraits inspired by Picasso

Susan Dreaming Tuatapere (2012), an oil and acrylic on linen, is one of 15 pieces by Cosy Nook artist Nigel Brown in Milford Galleries Queenstown. Photo supplied.

Pablo Picasso's portrait of his mistress Dora Maar was the inspiration behind a series of works by Southland artist Nigel Brown which are now on display in Milford Galleries Queenstown.

Brown, of Cosy Nook, attended the public launch and discussed his latest works in the Church Ln gallery on Friday.

Nigel Brown: Invented Lived featured 15 ''made-up'' portraits, where names of his invented people embodied their personalities, senior art consultant Maurice Watson said.

Born in Invercargill in 1949, Brown gained a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Elam School of Arts, University of Auckland in 1971 and began his full-time artist career a year later.

Since then he has exhibited extensively in public and private galleries throughout New Zealand and had several touring exhibitions, including Points Along the Way, a survey, in 2000 and 2001.

Brown, as a printmaker, undertook two significant stained glass window designs - St Mary's Catholic Church, Auckland in 1991 and Auckland Cathedral in 1998.

After many years living in suburban Auckland, he moved to a coastal property in rural Southland in 2000.

Brown was awarded the Order of New Zealand Merit for Services to painting and printmaking in 2004 and was awarded a three-week residency in Russia hosted by New Zealand's ambassador in Moscow, Stuart Prior, in 2005.

Also on Friday, Milford Galleries opened its annual Royal Queenstown Easter Show downstairs, which featured ''30 high quality artworks by some of our leading artists, including sculptor Paul Dibble, glass artist Ann Robinson and painter Darryn George,'' Mr Watson said.

• Nigel Brown: Invented Lived runs until April 3. The Royal Queenstown Easter Show runs until May 1.