Meet The Artist
John Jones
I’m an artist-printmaker specialising in colour Linoprints. My images are figurative, and usually derived from memorable land and seascape sightings, occasions and viewpoints. There is no single conscious theme in my work, nor any particular issue to pursue through it. I try to explore varied visual interpretations of my chosen topics by modifying my printing techniques. Each image has usually first been a photograph or drawing, which then acts either as a specific guide or simply as a generalised idea for a linoprint design.
My prints are produced by the ‘reduction-block’ method, by which successively overlaying colours are printed progressively from the same linoblock or blocks, with the block(s) being cut or etched away (i.e. ‘reduced’) between each colour stage. This system usually guarantees more accurate colour registration, and also means that only one limited edition of each complete image can ever be made. All the images are hand-printed on an ‘Albion’ platen press of c. 1830 or a Columbian press of the same vintage.
C.V.
1961 - 70 ... Trained at Bath Academy of Art at Corsham; then taught art for 5 years in a
grammar school.
1971 to 1990…Taught Fine Art and visual media to degree level at North Riding College of Higher Education. Began to exhibit graphic and photographic work.
1976 to 1996…Occasional guest lecturer at the Museum School of Fine Arts, Boston, Massachusetts and at the Savannah School of Art & Design, Georgia.
1979 to 2001…Founder-member of Crescent Arts Workshop, Scarborough; then Chairman and currently life-member.
1985/86…Advisory member of Yorkshire Arts Association visual arts panel.
1990…Artist-participant in Tyne-Tees/Channel 4 programme series “Elements”.
1990 to present day…Retired early from full-time teaching to work independently on own relief print-making, and to exhibit linoprints.
2004 to present day…Instigator, organiser and participant in the annual “Yorkshire Coast Open Studios” event, which evolved into the “North Yorkshire Open Studios” event from 2006.
EXHIBITIONS
SOLO SHOWS
1981…Polaroid Gallery, Cambridge, Massachusetts.
1982, 1987 & 2002…Crescent Arts Gallery, Scarborough.
1984, 1987 & 2002…Scarborough Art Gallery.
1985…Bretton Hall Gallery.
1996…Lumiere Gallery, Savannah, Georgia.
2000…Huddersfield Art Gallery.
2002…Old Meeting House Arts Centre, Helmsley.
2005…Darlington Arts Centre.
DUAL SHOWS
2003 & 2006...Stephen Joseph Theatre Gallery, Scarborough
GROUP SHOWS – A selection
“Yorkshire Artists Biennial” in 1981, 1985, 1989, 1993, 1997, 2001 and 2006.
“Hockney Bradford Challenge” in 1987 at the National Museum of Photography, Film and Television.
“Millfield Open” in 1989.
“Contemporary British Prints” Printmakers Council in 1991.
“Half-imperial Show – Contemporary Trends in Printmaking” in 1993.
Open Print exhibitions at the Royal West of England Academy, Bristol, in 1994 and 2004.
“The Sea” exhibition, Beatrice Royal Gallery, Eastleigh 1995.
“Graffik” Lincolnshire Open exhibition in 1995 and 1997.
Open Print exhibition at York City Art Gallery in 1996.
Open Winter exhibitions at Ferrens Art Gallery, Hull in 1995, 1997 and 2000.
Open exhibition at Middlesbrough Art Gallery in 1999.
“East Coast Open” exhibitions at Scarborough Art Gallery in 2000 and 2002.
“Ripple” exhibition at the Ropewalk Gallery, Barton- on- Humber in 2001.
“Splash” exhibition, Shire Hall Gallery, Stafford in 2002
“Imprint” exhibition , Bookcase Gallery, Carlisle in 2002.
“Taster” exhibitions at the Pannet Art Gallery, Whitby in 2004 and 2005.
“Showcase” exhibition, Mercer Gallery, Harrogate in 2006.
Open “Prize Print” exhibition at the Royal Birmingham Society of Artists gallery in 2006.
Summer exhibition at Zillah Bell gallery, Thirsk in 2007.
National Touring Exhibition “Small Print – Big Impression”
- 2007 to 2008.