Henry William Kirkwood was born in Berwick-on-Tweed,England. He arrived in New Zealand from Scotland c.1879, working as a professional artist during a period in which a local tourist industry was beginning to emerge, painting romantic, popular views such as Milford Sound and Mt Egmont. He initially lived in Dunedin and Nelson, moving to Wellington c. 1900. He lived in New Plymouth 1904-1910, in Wanganui until about 1914, Palmerston North 1916, Napier 1917 and Auckland 1918-1922, with short periods in Whangarei and New Plymouth after this. Many of his paintings are of the South Island lakes and mountains, especially Fiordland. He travelled extensively round New Zealand to find subjects for his paintings. He had many pupils in New Zealand. Most of his known work is in oils on both board and canvas. In 1924, he moved to Sydney to live with his son. He died in Sydney in 1925.  Kirkwood’s work is represented in the collection of the Museum of New Zealand – Te Papa Tongarewa, The Suter, Nelson and many other New Zealand institutions.