The 1970s
John had been teaching at Sunderland College of Art since the early ‘60s, often painting into the early hours after work and on his days off. In the early 1970s he bought a VW campervan and spent long summer breaks from college touring with his young family, first around Northumberland and Scotland for a few summers before venturing across the channel to Europe. Although John’s focus remained painting around the North-East, these trips further afield afforded him new subject matter.