Dusty Rhodes

James Francis "Dusty" Rhodes (8 May 1891 – 3 May 1979) was a hairdresser and prolific amateur artist who lived in Greymouth, New Zealand.

Early life and family Born in Christchurch on 8 May 1891, James Rhodes went to Christ's College before attending the Canterbury College School of Art. He moved to Wellington briefly before returning to Christchurch to work as a hairdresser. In November 1915, he was drafted into the army Ambulance Corps and sent to the Western Front in 1917. He returned badly wounded and suffering from the after-effects of mustard gas. Together they had four children – Faye, Ngaio, Betty, and Jim – before moving in 1929 to the West Coast. Rhodes set up a barbershop on Mawhera Quay, Greymouth, near the Railway Hotel. The family home was in Tasman Street, but later Dusty and Edith moved to Firth Street in Cobden. and even once painted a pig on a necktie. and was given a gold watch in thanks. Rhodes also painted most of the calico backdrops for theatre and operatic productions in Greymouth, which often depicted exotic locales such as Italy, the South Seas, or a fairy dell.

Rhodes died in Greymouth on 3 May 1979 at the age of 87, and was buried at Karoro Lawn Cemetery. He had been predeceased by his wife, Edith, in 1969.

Collections Left Bank Art Gallery, Greymouth Three Dusty Rhodes paintings, one depicting the HMS Glowworm in the act of ramming the German cruiser Admiral Hipper, are held by the Greymouth RSA

Solo shows An exhibition of Dusty Rhodes's paintings was held at the Left Bank Art Gallery, 5–27 February 2016.