John graduated in Architecture in 1976 and practiced in the profession until his retirement in 2018. Along the way there were various detours – photography, garden design, teaching graphics in High School and at Kent Institute of Art and Design. During the architectural recession of 1990-93 John taught himself to paint, entered various competitions and held several exhibitions. The need to earn a living took him back to architecture, but he has always drawn and painted. After starting with an architect’s pen and ink he moved on to pencils, pastels and acrylics before, seemingly, watercolour found him. A set of oil paints still lie unused in their box after several years.
His subject matter is rich and varied, and often inspired by extensive foreign travel. Fortuitously, his first one man show was held in Cork Street ( at the Indian Tourist Office ) – a record of a trip to Rajasthan; the second, paintings of the works of Antonio Gaudi, at the RIBA – this then transferred to Barcelona for the duration of the Olympics; The third, paintings of gardens, was awarded a bronze medal by the RHS. He has also shown at the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition, Royal Institute of Painters in Watercolours, Royal Watercolour Society, Sunday Times Watercolour Competition, Equestrian Artists Society, Wildlife Artists Society, Royal Horticultural Society, and various private galleries. Examples of his work have appeared in the Guardian, Building Design, Horse and Hound and the Waterfowl Society website.
His current obsession is with birds, inspired, no doubt, by his hobby of gliding. In the summer months you can find him soaring above the Dunstable Downs with the kites, buzzards and seagulls. Artistically he has many influences, from modern day super realists and 1950’s book illustrators, through to the Victorian Orientalists. Above all, he hopes that the craftsmanship and technique which he values is evident in his work.