Around the world in 80 years - Ron Esplin Art Exhibition

At the age of ten, Ron Esplin had been around the world one and a half times by ship, crossing the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific Oceans. 

But he didn’t stop there, travelling by land, sea and air to 80 countries by the time he was 80. In addition to visiting these places, he painted them too. From Aden in Yemen and Curacao in the Caribbean, to the Seven New Wonders of the World, Ron has captured it all in watercolour. 

“My mother and father both painted,” says Ron, “and so did my older brother Clark, so it seemed only natural that I would pick up a paintbrush at an early age.” 

An exhibition is being held to celebrate Ron turning 80 and includes a newly launched book Around the world in 80 years, with paintings of the houses he lived in, the countries he visited and the sights he saw.

“Not many people have the tag line of going one and a half times around the world by the age of ten,” says Ron’s wife Julie Woods, “so I couldn’t resist turning Ron’s boys own adventure into a book.”

The exhibition will take place at the Otago Arts Society at the Dunedin Railway Station, from 8 – 22 December between 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. daily and feature 27 of Ron’s watercolour paintings, including a self-portrait. 

For any enquiries, or to arrange a time to meet Ron at the exhibition, ring him on 021 358 082 Or email ronesplinartist@gmail.com