Born in Christchurch, Webb studied at the Ilam School of Art in Christchurch from 1968-71 and at the Royal College of Art in London from 1972-75. Although Webb was trained as a sculptor, he chose to work with photography, capturing realistic scenes with curious details using odd juxtapositions of objects. In the 1980s, Webb created purely theatrical and artificial images constructed with sets and actors. In the following decade, he focused on scientific subject matter that explored the biology of genetic engineering, disease, and reproduction. In these “scientific works” the viewer is confounded as to whether the images are constructed using man-made material or depict real specimens. Lately, Webb produced the Botanics series, consisting of close-ups of silk flowers that the artist retouched with colour and placed in front of a monochrome background. These works were inspired by Charles Baudelair’s poem Les Fleurs du mal (Flowers of Evil) and alludes to the destruction of nature at the hands of humankind. Webb has exhibited extensively throughout New Zealand, Europe, and America. In 1995, he represented New Zealand at the Sydney Biennale. He currently lives and works in Brighton, England.
