The Studios
John Howard Print Studios is a high-quality and vibrant facility offering opportunities for new and experienced printmakers to develop their skills and expertise.
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John Howard Print Studios is a high-quality and vibrant facility offering opportunities for new and experienced printmakers to develop their skills and expertise.
read more >
John Howard, BA, RE
You can view John Howard's work at www.numasters.com
Born July 1958 in Birmingham, England, John is married with three children. He worked in industry in the Midlands for ten years before studying Fine Art at University of Central England as a mature student. He graduated from there in 1989 with a First Class Honours Degree in Fine Art. John was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Painter-Printmakers (RE) in 1995 and a Member of the Royal Birmingham Society of Artists (RBSA) in 1996. He moved to Cornwall in August 1995 for greater professional and personal fulfillment and now runs a printmaking studio in an iconic eco-building, offering courses, workshops and open access to other printmakers. He has taught as a visiting lecturer at University of Central England, University of Warwick, University of Coventry and Birmingham Print Workshop and is a regular contributor to courses at King Edward’s School, Birmingham and University College Falmouth. He is a member of the Penwith Printmakers.
Themes
John’s early work drew heavily on his experiences in industry, with a series of prints and drawings based on his work in Birmingham and Black Country foundries, evoking the dramatic lighting effects created by blast furnaces in the dark and sombre interiors.
His work then focused on architectural themes, exploring relationships between space, structure and light, both internal and external.
Since moving to Cornwall John has been able to develop his interest in discovering unusual and different perspectives on the natural environment. His particular expertise is in exploiting the qualities of light and experimenting with form and structure, both natural and man-made.
Although known primarily as printmaker, John also paints and considers it important to draw regularly to improve visual awareness and gain new insight.
Public Commissions
John Howard had successfully completed commissions for four different companies when he was selected to work on a major project at St. John’s College, Oxford. The architects MacCormac Jamieson Prichard commissioned a number of artists to contribute to their internationally acclaimed design and construction of new residences at the College. His brief was to record the progress of the building in a dynamic and creative fashion and he produced a series of etchings and drypoints that were exhibited at the opening of the residences in 1994.
Following this John Howard was funded by West Midlands Arts to work as artist-in-residence at Birmingham Repertory Theatre during the 1994/95 season. The resulting body of work was shown at the Repertory Theatre in autumn 1995.
Early in 1996 John completed a commission for the University of Central England on the occasion of the refurbishment of their splendid Victorian School of Art.
Following completion of a limited edition print of Soho House, home of Matthew Boulton, pioneer of the Industrial Revolution, for the Lunar Society in Birmingham, John was commissioned by Birmingham City Council to produce a series of prints relating to the ornaments and interior of the Soho House Museum. The resulting exhibition opened at Soho House in October 1996.
You can view John Howard's work at www.numasters.com
Born July 1958 in Birmingham, England, John is married with three children. He worked in industry in the Midlands for ten years before studying Fine Art at University of Central England as a mature student. He graduated from there in 1989 with a First Class Honours Degree in Fine Art. John was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Painter-Printmakers (RE) in 1995 and a Member of the Royal Birmingham Society of Artists (RBSA) in 1996. He moved to Cornwall in August 1995 for greater professional and personal fulfillment and now runs a printmaking studio in an iconic eco-building, offering courses, workshops and open access to other printmakers. He has taught as a visiting lecturer at University of Central England, University of Warwick, University of Coventry and Birmingham Print Workshop and is a regular contributor to courses at King Edward’s School, Birmingham and University College Falmouth. He is a member of the Penwith Printmakers.
Themes
John’s early work drew heavily on his experiences in industry, with a series of prints and drawings based on his work in Birmingham and Black Country foundries, evoking the dramatic lighting effects created by blast furnaces in the dark and sombre interiors.
His work then focused on architectural themes, exploring relationships between space, structure and light, both internal and external.
Since moving to Cornwall John has been able to develop his interest in discovering unusual and different perspectives on the natural environment. His particular expertise is in exploiting the qualities of light and experimenting with form and structure, both natural and man-made.
Although known primarily as printmaker, John also paints and considers it important to draw regularly to improve visual awareness and gain new insight.
Public Commissions
John Howard had successfully completed commissions for four different companies when he was selected to work on a major project at St. John’s College, Oxford. The architects MacCormac Jamieson Prichard commissioned a number of artists to contribute to their internationally acclaimed design and construction of new residences at the College. His brief was to record the progress of the building in a dynamic and creative fashion and he produced a series of etchings and drypoints that were exhibited at the opening of the residences in 1994.
Following this John Howard was funded by West Midlands Arts to work as artist-in-residence at Birmingham Repertory Theatre during the 1994/95 season. The resulting body of work was shown at the Repertory Theatre in autumn 1995.
Early in 1996 John completed a commission for the University of Central England on the occasion of the refurbishment of their splendid Victorian School of Art.
Following completion of a limited edition print of Soho House, home of Matthew Boulton, pioneer of the Industrial Revolution, for the Lunar Society in Birmingham, John was commissioned by Birmingham City Council to produce a series of prints relating to the ornaments and interior of the Soho House Museum. The resulting exhibition opened at Soho House in October 1996.
Exhibitions (selected)
Open Exhibitions
1988 – 1994
Annual Exhibition, ‘Mid Art’, Dudley Art Gallery
1988 - 1990
Annual ‘Open Print’ Exhibition, Bankside Gallery, London
1990 – 1994
Manchester Academy of Fine Art Open, Annual Exhibition
1990, 1993 – 1996, 2003 – 2004
Annual Hunting National Art Exhibition
1991 – 1994, 1997, 1998, 2003, 2006
Royal Academy Summer Exhibition
1990
114th Exhibition of Contemporary Prints, Bankside Gallery, London
1994
Royal West of England Academy Open Print Exhibition, Bristol
1995, 1996
National Print Exhibition, Mall Galleries, London
1996 – 1998
Society of Artists in Cornwall Annual Open, Liskeard
2000
Christmas Exhibition 2000, South West Academy of Fine and Applied Arts
Open Exhibition 2001, South West Academy of Fine and Applied Arts
2001
The Pastel Society Exhibition, Mall Galleries, London
2007
Royal Birmingham Society of Artists, 2008
St. Ives Society of Artists, 2008
Group Exhibitions
1989
‘Whitworth Young Contemporaries’, Whitworth Art Gallery, Manchester.
1990
BT New Contemporaries Touring.
‘The Birmingham School’, Birmingham City Museum and Art Gallery.
1991 – 2006
Royal Society of Painter-Printmakers Annual Exhibition, Bankside Gallery, London.
1991
‘Print Europe’ Touring, Barbican, London.
1992
‘Birmingham Contemporary Artists’, Birmingham City Museum and Art Gallery.
Edinburgh Contemporary Art Fair.
1994
‘In Search of the Black Country’, Walsall Museum and Art Gallery.
1996, 1997
Royal Birmingham Society of Artists, Members Exhibition.
1998
‘Prints in Focus: Whistler to Hockney and beyond’, Birmingham City Museum and Art Gallery.
1999
‘No Day Without a Line: Royal Society of Painter-Printmakers 1880 –1999’, Ashmolean Museum, Oxford.
2001
‘Off Cuts’, Royal Society of Painter-Printmakers, Bankside Gallery, London.
‘Art and Industry’, Dudley Museum and Art Gallery.
2002
‘Starting a Collection, Art First, Cork Street, London.
2003
Art First in Print, Art First, Cork Street, London.
‘Hellenic Adventure’, Royal Society of Painter-Printmakers, Bankside Gallery, London.
2004
Royal Society of Painter-Printmakers Exhibition, New Ashgate Gallery, Surrey.
2005
‘Virtual to actual’, Silverwell Fine Art, Falmouth Arts Centre.
‘Impressions’, Royal Birmingham Society of Artists.
2006
Landscapes and Interiors, Lander Gallery, Truro.
2007
‘Originals’, Mall Galleries, London.
Printmaking in Penwith, Penlee Museum and Art Gallery.
2008
'Coast', Lander Gallery, Truro
Penwith Printmakers, Atlantic Galleries, Falmouth and St. Just
Solo Exhibitions
1991
‘A Piranesian View of Birmingham’, Midlands Contemporary Art, Birmingham.
1992
‘A Piranesian View of Birmingham II’, Midlands Contemporary Art, Birmingham.
Solo Exhibition, St. George’s Brandon Hill, Bristol.
1995
‘Piranesian Views’, Art First, Cork Street, London then Midlands Arts Centre, Birmingham.
Solo Exhibition, University of Central England, Birmingham.
1996
‘Soho House: Interior and Ornament’, Soho House Museum, Birmingham.
1998
Solo Exhibition, North Cornwall Museum and Art Gallery, Camelford, Cornwall.
2000
‘still,seeing’, Falmouth Arts Centre, Cornwall.
2001
Recent works, Falmouth Arts Centre, Cornwall
Solo Exhibition, Cornerstone Gallery, St. Ives, Cornwall.
2002
Solo Exhibition, Cornerstone Gallery, St. Ives, Cornwall.
2002 - 2006
Recent works, Falmouth Arts Centre, Cornwall.
Awards and Prizes (selected)
1988
Finalist, Royal Academy Young Printmaker of the Year (London).
Collier Framing and Chameleon Gallery Award (Newcastle).
Rowlinson Scholarship (University of Central England).
First Prize, Whitworth Wallis Marine Painting Competition (Birmingham).
1989
Galleries Magazine 1989 Print Award (London).
First Prize, Whitworth Wallis Marine Painting Competition (Birmingham).
E J Phipps Bequest Student Prize (Birmingham).
First Prize, FRBSA Annual Exhibition (Birmingham).
Runner up, Graduate Artist of the Year (London).
1990
Purchase Prize, ‘Mid Art 90’ (Dudley)
Third Prize, New England Art Club (London)
1993
First Prize, Major Open Award (Manchester).
Second Prize, ‘Mid Art 93’ (Dudley).
Print Prize, Department of Transport Art Competition (London).
1994
Third Prize, Royal West of England Academy Open Print Exhibition (Bristol).
1996
First and second print prizes and highly commended award, Society of Artists in Cornwall (Liskeard).
2008
Second prize, Royal Birmingham Society of Artists Open
Collections
Surikov Academy of Arts, Moscow
Chameleon Gallery, Newcastle
University of Central England
Hereford College of Art
Birmingham City Museum and Art Gallery
Dudley Art Gallery
Bankside Gallery, London
Royal Birmingham Society of Artists
Wolverhampton Art Gallery
Birmingham University
British Gas
Severn Trent Water
Victoria and Albert Museum, London
House of Commons
National Grid
Warwick University
Manchester Art Gallery
Walsall Museum and Art Gallery
Soho House Museum, Birmingham
Lunar Society, Birmingham
St. John’s College, Oxford
Private collections
Open Exhibitions
1988 – 1994
Annual Exhibition, ‘Mid Art’, Dudley Art Gallery
1988 - 1990
Annual ‘Open Print’ Exhibition, Bankside Gallery, London
1990 – 1994
Manchester Academy of Fine Art Open, Annual Exhibition
1990, 1993 – 1996, 2003 – 2004
Annual Hunting National Art Exhibition
1991 – 1994, 1997, 1998, 2003, 2006
Royal Academy Summer Exhibition
1990
114th Exhibition of Contemporary Prints, Bankside Gallery, London
1994
Royal West of England Academy Open Print Exhibition, Bristol
1995, 1996
National Print Exhibition, Mall Galleries, London
1996 – 1998
Society of Artists in Cornwall Annual Open, Liskeard
2000
Christmas Exhibition 2000, South West Academy of Fine and Applied Arts
Open Exhibition 2001, South West Academy of Fine and Applied Arts
2001
The Pastel Society Exhibition, Mall Galleries, London
2007
Royal Birmingham Society of Artists, 2008
St. Ives Society of Artists, 2008
Group Exhibitions
1989
‘Whitworth Young Contemporaries’, Whitworth Art Gallery, Manchester.
1990
BT New Contemporaries Touring.
‘The Birmingham School’, Birmingham City Museum and Art Gallery.
1991 – 2006
Royal Society of Painter-Printmakers Annual Exhibition, Bankside Gallery, London.
1991
‘Print Europe’ Touring, Barbican, London.
1992
‘Birmingham Contemporary Artists’, Birmingham City Museum and Art Gallery.
Edinburgh Contemporary Art Fair.
1994
‘In Search of the Black Country’, Walsall Museum and Art Gallery.
1996, 1997
Royal Birmingham Society of Artists, Members Exhibition.
1998
‘Prints in Focus: Whistler to Hockney and beyond’, Birmingham City Museum and Art Gallery.
1999
‘No Day Without a Line: Royal Society of Painter-Printmakers 1880 –1999’, Ashmolean Museum, Oxford.
2001
‘Off Cuts’, Royal Society of Painter-Printmakers, Bankside Gallery, London.
‘Art and Industry’, Dudley Museum and Art Gallery.
2002
‘Starting a Collection, Art First, Cork Street, London.
2003
Art First in Print, Art First, Cork Street, London.
‘Hellenic Adventure’, Royal Society of Painter-Printmakers, Bankside Gallery, London.
2004
Royal Society of Painter-Printmakers Exhibition, New Ashgate Gallery, Surrey.
2005
‘Virtual to actual’, Silverwell Fine Art, Falmouth Arts Centre.
‘Impressions’, Royal Birmingham Society of Artists.
2006
Landscapes and Interiors, Lander Gallery, Truro.
2007
‘Originals’, Mall Galleries, London.
Printmaking in Penwith, Penlee Museum and Art Gallery.
2008
'Coast', Lander Gallery, Truro
Penwith Printmakers, Atlantic Galleries, Falmouth and St. Just
Solo Exhibitions
1991
‘A Piranesian View of Birmingham’, Midlands Contemporary Art, Birmingham.
1992
‘A Piranesian View of Birmingham II’, Midlands Contemporary Art, Birmingham.
Solo Exhibition, St. George’s Brandon Hill, Bristol.
1995
‘Piranesian Views’, Art First, Cork Street, London then Midlands Arts Centre, Birmingham.
Solo Exhibition, University of Central England, Birmingham.
1996
‘Soho House: Interior and Ornament’, Soho House Museum, Birmingham.
1998
Solo Exhibition, North Cornwall Museum and Art Gallery, Camelford, Cornwall.
2000
‘still,seeing’, Falmouth Arts Centre, Cornwall.
2001
Recent works, Falmouth Arts Centre, Cornwall
Solo Exhibition, Cornerstone Gallery, St. Ives, Cornwall.
2002
Solo Exhibition, Cornerstone Gallery, St. Ives, Cornwall.
2002 - 2006
Recent works, Falmouth Arts Centre, Cornwall.
Awards and Prizes (selected)
1988
Finalist, Royal Academy Young Printmaker of the Year (London).
Collier Framing and Chameleon Gallery Award (Newcastle).
Rowlinson Scholarship (University of Central England).
First Prize, Whitworth Wallis Marine Painting Competition (Birmingham).
1989
Galleries Magazine 1989 Print Award (London).
First Prize, Whitworth Wallis Marine Painting Competition (Birmingham).
E J Phipps Bequest Student Prize (Birmingham).
First Prize, FRBSA Annual Exhibition (Birmingham).
Runner up, Graduate Artist of the Year (London).
1990
Purchase Prize, ‘Mid Art 90’ (Dudley)
Third Prize, New England Art Club (London)
1993
First Prize, Major Open Award (Manchester).
Second Prize, ‘Mid Art 93’ (Dudley).
Print Prize, Department of Transport Art Competition (London).
1994
Third Prize, Royal West of England Academy Open Print Exhibition (Bristol).
1996
First and second print prizes and highly commended award, Society of Artists in Cornwall (Liskeard).
2008
Second prize, Royal Birmingham Society of Artists Open
Collections
Surikov Academy of Arts, Moscow
Chameleon Gallery, Newcastle
University of Central England
Hereford College of Art
Birmingham City Museum and Art Gallery
Dudley Art Gallery
Bankside Gallery, London
Royal Birmingham Society of Artists
Wolverhampton Art Gallery
Birmingham University
British Gas
Severn Trent Water
Victoria and Albert Museum, London
House of Commons
National Grid
Warwick University
Manchester Art Gallery
Walsall Museum and Art Gallery
Soho House Museum, Birmingham
Lunar Society, Birmingham
St. John’s College, Oxford
Private collections