Press Release
John Erskine
presents
‘Journeys’
‘Journeys’ - The forthcoming exhibition of John Erskine MA (RCA) at the A & D Gallery Marylebone (8 – 12 April), is
an occasion of excitement and anticipation. This is John’s first major exhibition in London for over 40 years.
‘Journeys’ is the culmination of John’s wide travels throughout his artistic career.
When talking about the exhibition, John says: “The works I am looking forward to presenting at the A & D Gallery
in Springtime relate to past journeys in France, Greece, the Netherlands, Ireland, Germany, America and England.
Works will include drawings, mono-prints, watercolours, landscapes and portraits, culminating in recent work in
London: ‘The Thames Series and Hampstead Heath’, near my home.”
Viaduct Hampstead Heath 80 x 100 cms, Oil on canvas Tower Bridge 60 x 60 cms, Oil on board
For those unfamiliar with John’s work and life: He was born in 1944 in Youghal, Co Cork, Ireland and raised in
Sunderland, Tyne and Wear. He has travelled extensively, painting and exhibiting his work, throughout his
professional life. Early in his career he was awarded the Medal of Roi Rene from the city of Aix-en-Provence where
he also had a number of major exhibitions. He later worked in New York where he had a major exhibition at the
Art Expo of 1986 at the Jacob Javitts Convention Centre New York. More recently he has exhibited in Wiesbaden
Germany; Texel, The Netherlands and Rhodes, Greece. He has works in private collections all over the world.
John’s work is also available at the Bridgeman Art Libraries online resource www.bridgemanart.com and also at
Bridgeman Libraries new online resource: Bridgeman Studio.
Palazzo Galante (Tuscany) 80 x 100 cms, Oil on Canvas
‘The great American artist Ben Shahn (1898 – 1969) wrote: “There are two things to paint: things I feel strongly for
and things I feel strongly against and I feel very strongly about a lot of things.”
Paul Cezanne (1839 – 1906), with reference to his work as a painter, wrote in a letter to his great friend Emile Zola:
“Some faint sensations are leading me to a sense of realisation.”
In the pocket of Vincent van Gogh’s jacket, found after his death by his brother, Theo, were these last ever written
lines: “My dear brother. Well, my work is done and I am risking my life for it and my reason has half foundered
because of it – that’s alright, but you are not among the dealers of men, as far as I know, and you can still choose
your side, I think, still acting with humanity, que veux-tu? What else can you do? Vincent van Gogh (1853 – 1890).
Observations from artists of the stature of Ben Shahn, Paul Cezanne and Vincent Van Gogh have nourished my
thinking down the years and, indeed, continue to do so.
Long ago I made a choice, given the opportunity from childhood to develop my talent, that I would pursue image
making through drawing, painting and photography and, thanks to the great teaching traditions at Sunderland College
of Art and the Royal College of Art, I have been working ever since. In addition, the love and encouragement of my
parents and family, down all the years and that of friends and fellow artists, have sustained me such that my journey
continues.
I hope my work, presented here, gives evidence of that journey. ’
John Erskine
Spring 2014.
Ouderdyk (Texel, Netherlands) 80 x 100 cms, Oil on Canvas
Exhibition details:
A & D Gallery 51 Chiltern Street London W1U 6LY
Tel: 020 7486 0534
www.aanddgallery.com
Times: 8 – 12 April 2014. 10.30am – 7pm
For an invitation to the private view or further information please contact John at email info@johnerskine.co.uk or
contact the A&D Gallery at 020 7486 0534, email info@aanddgallery.com.