Renowned and often controversial New Plymouth artist Don Driver has died.

One of Taranaki's most celebrated citizens, Driver died yesterday morning after a long illness.

Born in 1930, he moved to New Plymouth in 1944 and was one of just a handful of artists who managed to build a national reputation outside New Zealand's main centres.

Some of his most distinctive and respected collage and assemblage works from the 1960s and 1970s were made up of everyday items such as fertiliser sacks, blankets and farm tools.

At the time the use of such materials was highly controversial, leading to debate about just what art could be made of. There is no argument now, with his work well recognised throughout the country and in Australia where he has a growing reputation.

"He was an original voice within the New Plymouth community. He was also an artist's artist and many artists have made works in reference to him," said Govett Brewster Art Gallery director Rhana Devenport yesterday.

Employed at the gallery in various positions for 24 years Driver gifted numerous works to the institution which was able to repay his generosity with regular exhibitions.

A 1999 retrospective exhibition, "Don Driver: With Spirit 1965 - 1998", toured the country, and in 2010 a solo exhibition of his work was part of the gallery's 40th anniversary celebrations.

Ms Devenport said Driver had a marvellous sense of colour and like all good artists was well ahead of his time. With age had come greater recognition of the influence his work had and despite his illness he remained prolific until just a few months before his death.

"People could really relate to him because he was using everyday materials.He would see art in the most unlikely situations and people can mentally connect with his work because it uses materials they are familiar with in their daily life."

Driver was responsible for the popular and eye-catching aluminum relief sculpture on the wall at New Plymouth airport, and some of his other works include an old-style pram spouting plastic yellow tentacles while Tundra features vinyl, rusted steel and wood.