John, until recent years lived with his family on the waterfront at Jervis Bay N.S.W. In this environment he swam, surfed, built boats, sailed boats and spent many enjoyable hours watching shipping movements both commercial and naval in this wonderful maritime scene.
In his early working years John trained in survey drafting and land surveying followed by employment in private practice, local government and the mining community. These pursuits required production and submission of plans and original fieldnotes to the relevant state authority. Drawing/painting endeavours commenced with a series of court house paintings for a local law firm and an extensive commission for a local land owner painting new buildings, old buildings and historic sites.
John joined the Royal Australian Naval Reserve and extended his passion into drawing and painting ships, seascapes and maritime images. He cruised with his wife on the celebrated Cunard liner Queen Elizabeth 2 and has cruised extensively over many years to many ports which again brought together this interest in maritime scenery.
John is a long standing member of the National Maritime Museum and has participated with his wife in many land and sea functions. Museum cruises on Sydney Harbour were always a favourite and created new ideas for art work.
John is most interested in his ongoing membership of The Australian Society of Marine Artists which initiates inspiration, ideas and the endeavour required for exhibitions.
Click the thumbnails to see details about each image
Awards & Achievements
John has exhibited paintings and drawings locally, in regional galleries, in the Blue Mountains, Sydney and as a member of this Society. He has won awards and enjoyed the participation in different localities with other artists.
An interesting project in association with his membership of a yacht club was redrawing a series of yacht design detail plans with coloured representations.
Local government engineering experience enabled John to submit proposed house and building plans with topographical features as required, for approval.
Living with his family in a mining community on King Island, John was engaged in plan work for features and contour projects related to land development, new mining leases and new port construction. Storm damage required update diagrams of the coast, working areas and comparison records.
John`s paintings and drawings may be found in private collections, a local government collection and in the display of a prominent land owner. Some commission work also features overseas privately.
John has conducted two exhibitions in the Nowra Art centre, one successfully held with his daughter Sally.
His work is developed with a precise freehand partial ink outline, derived from his real early training in survey drafting.