About Gunnar Pettersson

I was born in 1947 in Varberg, Sweden
Already as a child I couldn’t stop myself from drawing on every piece of paper I could find. To be able to work as an artist was always a dream. But after school I got a “real” job as a banker instead. Like that it went on for years even if I used to paint when I was free from the bank. But in 1979 I had my first major exhibition at the Museum of Natural history in Gothenburg. Then I was sure I had to take up painting as my main profession. By then I was contacted by a major book-publisher Good Books of Sweden. They were interested in having me as an illustrator and a writer. I couldn’t refuse this offer which led me to leave the bank for good in 1980. So far I have written and illustrated: Birds of Prey of Europe (Europas Rovfåglar), Bokklubben Bra Böcker, Aquila 1984.  In Masai Country (I Massajernas Land), Wiken 1990. About Birds of Prey and Owls (Om Rovfåglar och Ugglor), Almqvist & Wiksell 1996. Owls in Europe (Ugglor i Europa), Wiken 1984

 

 

Foto: Jan Pettersson    

 

 

I have travelled around Europe but also made many trips to East Africa where I wrote a book on the Maasais but I have also made several trips to the Arctic, South Asia, Australia, North and South America and the Galapagos Islands. My most recent trips have been to Antarctica and to India.

 

 

 

 

As a birdwatcher and nature-lover it is just natural that it is birds and the nature that most often are found in my paintings. But it is not just birds, often I chose mammals or why not pictures of landscapes or people that I favour. Naturally it is the local environment that you often will find in my paintings like the open horizon and the ever changing ocean. As a nature activist I fought hard to save the Getteröns Bird-sanctuary from threatening destruction. This was a long and hard fight which we at the end won and the sanctuary is now one of the best in Europe. I was also involved in the start of the Getteröns Bird-station and was the chairman of the Varbergs Ornitologiska Förening for many years.

 

I am self-trained as an artist. Often I am asked if I have inherited my artistic skills as an artist. My father was making very good drawings and he was also a good caricaturist and that might answer the question. If he might have had the same possibilities like I had I’m sure he would have become a well-known artist, but in those days things were different.

 

 

 

 

  

Besides many exhibitions in Sweden I have also participated abroad like at Birds in Art in the USA, in Saudi Arabia and in European countries. My paintings can also be seen in permanent exhibitions in museums in different countries.
King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden at his 50-yearsjubilee was presented one original painting of mine by the The Swedish Wetlands Foundation. The King got another of my paintings when the Royalties visited Getterön in 2001.

My studio which also is a part of our home is situated just 50 meters from the Kattegat-ocean some 10 kms south of Varberg. I live here with my family. The easiest way to find our place is by taking the exit from the E6 at the Tvååkersmotet, Varberg Syd (Varberg South) by turning towards Varberg. Then proceed some 3 kms where you turn left at the road-sign Morup. Take the old coastal-highway some 2 kms where you turn to Galtabäcks harbour. Half-ways towards the harbour you will find a sign Gunnar Pettersson. Turn left and you will find another sign Ateljé. Then you will find our house closest to the ocean.

 

 

 

Gunnar and White Rhinocerous, Meru Np. Kenya 1985  Foto Per Klaesson

 

 

You are always welcome to visit my studio but please call first for an appointment.

Telephone: + 46 340 41494 or e-mail: This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it