J'AIME June 2021

After starting out with painting John found
himself making abstract sculptures with
metal, wood and glass which then developed
into wooden box making.
The boxes in particular have become a
labour of love, with each taking several
months to complete.
“I enjoy doing it, it occupies me. Every
single box is different and serves a different
purpose. I have two children and they tend
to benefit from my box making.
“To me art isn’t just drawing pretty thatched
cottages by a babbling brook with snow on
it, although of course I can create that if
required. My scope ranges from full blown
abstracts to traditional work.
“A gallery once asked me why I have all these
different styles and said that an artist should
be known for the work they do. But my
response to that is that it reflects my design
background and different styles give me
different outlets.”
The broad range of art reflects John’s broad range of
interior design projects.
“One minute I would be involved with a pub
company and then it would be hotels. In the later
years, when I was in private practice,
I worked on health and fitness centres,
restaurants, offices and corporate function
rooms. The whole gambit of interior design.”
One of the highlights of John’s career was
working on the 16th Century Lincoln’s Inn
in London, which houses one of the world’s
most prestigious professional bodies of judges
and barristers.
“I designed furniture, lighting, graphics and
had a bespoke fabric design created. It was
a package of joy. Then the next day I was
working on a brand new office with stainless
steel.”
John’s clients have included Embassy Hotels,
Pinnacle Health and Fitness Clubs, Jaguar
Landrover, pub and restaurant groups,
numerous UK galleries and international art
publishers. He has also featured in a number
of solo and group exhibitions.
John takes his inspiration from many sources.
“I am particularly akin to texture, natural
patterns and intricacies such as the strata of
stones and rocks. I use various materials in
some of my work including paint, plaster,
metal and rock.
“I love the different textures and layers they
can create to give a 3D effect of high light
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