"I paint and draw in other ways as well but every now and again I have to create these big charcoal drawings."
He loves the drama and darkness charcoal creates and how physical the process is.
A lot of his work involves creating landscapes with subtle ecological messages about thinking and caring for the environment.
"My wife and I caravanned around the country for a couple of years and I took thousands of photographs.
"So I've got this great resource of images.
"Even when I drive to Wellington I still take photos of things around me."
Mr Pye, who lives in Otaki, has been an exhibiting artist for 30 years.
His love of art started as a child, despite growing up in a family where art wasn't encouraged.
"I loved things like Mad magazines and was often copying images."
His passion for art increased during his college years.
He got his first degree in the South Australian College of Advanced Education.
Mr Pye, who has a master of arts degree with first class honours, lectured at Auckland University of Technology for about 10 years.
His main source of income has been as a children's book illustrator.
"There's a series called Grandma McGarvey which I'm best known for.
"But I think I've been involved in over 200 children's books, a lot of them educational."
Mr Pye's exhibition finishes on Sunday August 28.
BackWal Gallery is located in 99 Atkinson Ave, Otaki
It opens Saturdays and Sundays 11am to 4pm or by appointment 06 364 7763
www.backwalgallery.com
