Art meets Architecture
Wilmar Schütz is a unique Melbourne based studio. Our name combines founder Chris Wilmar’s family name with the renowned Schütz seascape painting family from Middelburg in Holland. Chris is one of the last remaining direct descendants of the Schütz family.
The Schütz family comprised of three generations of prolific Dutch seascape artists from Middelburg in Holland and regarded as a Netherlands National Asset. Jan Frederik Schütz Sr (1817-1933), Willem Johannes Schütz (1854-1933), and Jan Frederik Schütz Jr (1863-1926) all created artwork that remain enduring examples of 19th & 20th Century European seascape painters.
Chris Wilmar’s Dutch heritage combined with his rural upbringing in New Zealand and Australia, and his parents love for art and antiques, created a love for period architecture where watercolour is particularly suited.
In 1990, Chris started his architecture career by undertaking a 5-year architectural draughting cadetship. He furthered his university education to become a registered architect in both Australia and New Zealand.
He is a premium A+ member of the Australian Institute of Architects and a life member of the National Trust Australia. His background specialist skills include working on very large and complex projects, developing detailed designs for major public sector architects and engineers.
Chris was drawn to complete post graduate studies in traditional architectural watercolour taught by an elderly Dutch tutor and architect. This sparked his enthusiasm to revive a lost art form and his passion for combining art with architecture progressively unfolded.
Chris regularly sketches and paints in “plein-air”. He continues to develop and explore watercolour master classes by internationally renowned artists including an “Italian Lakes and villas” study tour with well-known historian Michael Turner, and a Portugal and Morocco Watercolour Masterclass with Australian artist Ev Hales.
Founded in 2012, Wilmar Schütz continues to build on its proven reputation from years of professional experience in architecture and specialist watercolour to produce stunning architectural watercolour portraits for period and historic buildings across the globe.
