Description
John lives and works in Birmingham but his formative years were spent in Norwich within a vibrant artistic society that included artists with international reputations such as Michael Andrews and Geoffrey Camp. His father was a lecturer at Norwich Art School and a well-known professional landscape artist. Growing up in this artistic environment meant that John has always painted but this became a major part of his life when he retired as Professor of Dentistry over 20 years ago.
John has focused on portraiture, painting mostly in acrylic and working mainly from life whenever possible. He works rapidly aiming to create a strong, gestural image that helps to bring the portrait to life. John has broad tastes in portraiture and is not influenced by any one artist in particular.
In addition to working with acrylic John regularly engages in printmaking employing a variety of printing techniques, particularly dry point and linocut.
John has had solo exhibitions at the Helmsley Art Centre, the University of Birmingham and the RBSA Gallery; and has participated in group shows with the Royal Society of Portrait Painters, the RBSA, the Birmingham Art Circle, the Ikon for Artists exhibition at the Ikon Gallery 2021, and the West Midlands Open exhibition at the Walsall New Art Gallery 2022. Portrait commissions have included the Vice Chancellor of Malmo University; the founder of the Birmingham Medical Institute Sampson Gamgee; and two Directors of the Birmingham School of Dentistry; together with a number of private commissions.
