After a successful career as a musician playing in Melbourne in two of Paul Kelly’s early bands namely The Highrise Bombers and Paul Kelly and the Dots, and in Sydney playing with Flowers and Icehouse, John returned to his love of art, which he studied in Tasmania in his late teens.
During the past fourteen years as a professional artist, John has had 17 solo exhibitions in galleries in Melbourne, Sydney and South East Queensland. His work has also been shown in 30+ shared exhibitions and can now be found in collections throughout the world.
He is now based in his own gallery in Kyneton, Victoria.
“My work is best described as abstract landscape with a specific interest in colour and mood. Most of my work is created from my imagination although I will, at times, refer to sketches and photos I have taken. My paintings follow two distinct themes – on one hand, muted and tranquil and, at times, minimal renderings of country scenery, on the other, bright and cheerfully irreverent patchworked pieces where multi-coloured hillsides are scattered with understated trees and fencelines. Tracks meandering toward the horizon, fence posts with cut remnants of broken wire and birds like crows, magpies and cockatoos are familiar elements in my work, often conveying a sense of vastness and isolation.”
EXHIBITIONS
2010 Solo Exhibition – Pivotal Galleries, Melbourne
2010 Scale to Suit – Pivotal Galleries, Melbourne
2009 Solo Exhibition – Pivotal Galleries, Melbourne
2009 Life Between – Pivotal Galleries, Melbourne
2008 Solo Exhibition – Pivotal Galleries, Melbourne
2008 Art Melbourne – Royal Exhibition Buildings, Melbourne
2008 Group Exhibition – Pivotal Galleries, Melbourne
2007 Group Exhibition – Pivotal Galleries, Melbourne
2007 Solo Exhibition – Paddington Contemporary Gallery, Sydney
2007 Solo Exhibition – Pivotal Galleries, Melbourne
2007 Solo Exhibition – Salmon Galleries, Sydney
2006 Solo Exhibition – Pivotal Galleries, Melbourne
2005 Art Melbourne – Royal Exhibition Buildings, Melbourne
2005 Solo Exhibition – Pivotal Galleries, Melbourne
2005 Featured Artist – Canterbury Art Exhibition, Melbourne
2005 Solo Exhibition – John Lloyd Studio Gallery, Byron Bay
2004 The Affordable Art Show, Melbourne
2004 Solo Exhibition – Main Street Gallery, Montville
2004 Dual exhibition Maree Mizon Gallery, Sydney
2004 The Affordable Art Show, Sydney
2003 An Affinity, Pivotal Galleries
2003 Group Exhibition – “Urban Landscape”, Bark Modern Art Gallery, Hong Kong
2002 Pivotal Galleries Opening Exhibition
2002 Group Exhibition – Australian Artists, Exchange Square, Hong Kong
2002 Solo Exhibition – Main Street Gallery, Montville
2002 Maree Mizon Gallery, Sydney
2001 Solo Exhibition – The Beatty Gallery, Sydney
2000 Solo Exhibition – The Cape Gallery, Byron Bay
1999 Group Exhibition – Three Generations, The Masters Gallery, Woodend
1998 Solo Exhibition – Thangs Gallery, Melbourne
1998 Solo Exhibition – Kulture Shop Gallery, Sydney
1997 Solo Exhibition – Waywood Gallery, Byron Bay
COMMISSIONS + COLLECTIONS
2002 Commission for Sheraton Noosa Resort, Queensland
1999 Commission for Rydges Wentworth Hotel, Sydney
Private collections throughout Europe, Asia, the USA and Australasia
BIBLIOGRAPHY
‘If You Do One Thing’, The Age Newspaper, May 11, 2006
‘John Swaps drumsticks for Paint Brushes’, Byron Shire News, April, 2006
‘Cool Scenes After Icehouse’, Brisbane News, 2006