The 1950s

Having moved on from South Shields to Leeds School of Art, where his work was seen as outdated by his lecturers (so much so that he was banished to an attic room to work on his own so that he wouldn’t influence other students), John won a scholarship to the Slade School of Art in London. He was one of the youngest in his year group but was deadly serious about his work - a quality he later admired and rewarded in his own students. He completed his diploma in two years, rather than the usual three. National Service followed, first as a private with the King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry and then as a sergeant in the Intelligence Corps in Cyprus. We have recently found a portfolio of around 100 sketches and watercolours from this period which we’re busy recording. A very small selection is below.