About

John is fascinated by the power of the natural world: tsunamis, lightning, stormy seas and the vastness of space. He also loves machines, from model aircraft to the planes, cars, ships and trains he paints.

John loves humour and laughter, and they sometimes find their way into his paintings through Gizmo’s misadventures. Elsewhere, mushroom houses with faces sit in colourful landscapes: whimsical worlds with a sense of childlike wonder.

His art is a direct expression of what he loves in life. This breadth comes from his own interests. Some paintings record journeys he has made, with hand-painted notes giving dates, routes and facts. Others take him into the worlds of his imagination.

Ideas can arrive while he is watching television or sitting in a café; he then goes home to paint them. His home is also his studio, its walls covered in his work.

John loves to paint for his friends, and their cats often find their way into his pictures. Making something for someone he cares about is an important part of his practice.

His own lifelong companion, Gizmo, is a frequent star too. Part bear, part cat and very much his own character, he has a place in John’s life as well as in his paintings. Meet Gizmo ↗

John was born in Port Elizabeth, South Africa, in 1956. His travels began as a small child, when his family made the journey to New Zealand.

1959 · The journey to New Zealand

John and his family sailed from the United Kingdom through the Panama Canal, stopping in Tahiti. They arrived in Wellington at around six in the morning on 29 April, in the rain. John was two, with his third birthday just a few weeks away.

Auckland and journeys abroad

After leaving school, John worked in refrigeration in Auckland. Over the years, his travels have taken him through Europe, the United States, Australia and South America. Paris and Rome are his favourite cities.

2011 · Auckland to Wellington

After a holiday in the United Kingdom, John moved from Auckland to Wellington. He lived in Newtown until 2019 and now makes his home and paintings in Taita, Lower Hutt.

During his years in Newtown, John became a regular at People’s Coffee, where he met his friend and agent Kane, who later presented a solo show of his paintings at Drive Thru. In 2024, three of John’s works were included in The Mongoose and the Snake at Jhana Millers Gallery.

Before his first heart attack, John had no interest in making art. Rugby, cricket and making model planes occupied him instead. In March 2012, he had a major heart attack and heart surgery at Wellington Hospital.

He began painting in early 2013. The impulse surprised him; he does not know where it came from. Painting became a new way to express both his experiences and his interests.

John also describes a near-death experience, which matters to the mystical side of his painting. In some works, eyes look out from skies and galaxies. Space and the power of nature sometimes meet these personal experiences, though much of his work on those subjects is simply about their wonder.