Born in Forfar in 1941, John Johnstone attended Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art in Dundee from 1959 to 1964 and studied under David McClure and Alberto Morrocco, and under their tutelage, he experimented with different styles of painting and found his own vigorous, direct expressionist style.
He won a travel scholarship and spent six months visiting galleries across Europe and had two exhibitions at the Alwin Gallery in London’s Mayfair in 1966 and 1967 before heading off to spend six months in Jamaica.
Upon his return to Scotland, John took up a part-time teaching position at Duncan of Jordanstone, passing on his knowledge to a new generation of artists who have gone on to forge their own careers such as Joseph Urie, Ian Hughes and Michael McVeigh.
Settled back in Forfar, he abandoned his previous expressionist style in favour of the more detailed, illustrative one that we are so familiar with today. John’s narrative style has continued to develop, he has introduced much humour as well as satirising topics of the day.
His subject matter is wide ranging and includes many local scenes as well as those taken from literature such as Alice in Wonderland; throughout his work he introduces famous characters who just happen to be walking down his Dundee streets, especially Bob Dylan, who is one of John’s obsessions.
He was a professional member of SSA and Scottish Visual Arts and showed regularly with the RSA and SSA. He has works in public and private collections at home and abroad including Carnegie Trust’s Art Collection, Angus Council Collection, Dundee City Collection, The McManus Galleries Collection and Fife Council Museums West Collection.
John has shown in the mixed shows at Fraser Gallery St Andrews for a few years.