William James Reed (Bill) (1908 - 1996) was a Christchurch born artist who attended Canterbury School of Art with Rita Angus with tutors Archibald Nicoll & John Weeks. On leaving school he worked at Whitcombe & Tombs as a commercial artist alongside Russell Clark, they were lifelong friends - Reed later became best man at Russell Clark's wedding. Reed served with the Army Medical Corps in the Pacific from 1942-1944, becoming an unofficial war artist. On returning home he was offered a position at the Dunedin School of Art where he taught for almost 30 years. Known as a gifted tutor and artist his pupils included Stanley Palmer and Ralph Hotere. Reed's work embraced a modernist perspective. He acknowledged the influence of British artist Paul Nash. Reed was 'ahead of his time' - he was the first of his countrymen to look at the Pacific as an area of environmental inspiration. Represented: Auckland Art Gallery, Aigantighe Gallery, Hocken Library, Christhcurch Art Gallery, Rotorua Museum, Te Papa, Waikato Museum.