Born and raised in
Auckland, Binney was educated in
Parnell, Auckland, taking classes with
John Weeks and R B Sibson, who became his good friend and guide to the field of
ornithology. From 1958 to 1961, he studied at
Elam School of Fine Arts in Auckland, gaining a Diploma of Fine Arts. Binney's tutors included Ida Eisa, James Turkington,
Robert Ellis and
Robin Wood. In 1963, he held his first
solo exhibition at
Ikon Gallery, Auckland and began teaching at
Mount Roskill Grammar School, where he taught until 1966. In 1962, Binney began painting at
Te Henga, and views of Puketotara with indigenous birds became a common motif in his artworks. Working in
oil,
acrylic,
charcoal,
ink and carbon pencil, many of his works depict the west coast of Auckland and
Northland, containing sea, sky, native
birds,
still life and occasionally, figures. Binney was appointed an
Officer of the Order of the British Empire, for services to art, in the
1995 Queen's Birthday Honours. He was appointed as one of
Waitakere City's inaugural arts laureates in 2004. Binney died of a heart attack while in hospital in Auckland for an unrelated illness on 14 September 2012, at the age of 72, and was survived by his second wife Philippa and daughter Mary. His first wife was the historian
Judith Binney. ==Exhibitions==