About The Artist
John Hurst was born in Epworth, Lincolnshire in 1951. Son of a farming family and spending many hours in remote fenland areas brought John close to a natural world that became his passion. At a very early age, accompanied by his best friend Rookie, he always derived much pleasure from sketching the landscape and birds as shown in these Biro drawings of 1961:
John’s creative journey continued during secondary education supported by his art teacher, Geoff Trinder who not only inspired the teenager by his own love for nature and technical knowledge but also by his ability to tolerate and channel John’s wilful aspirations!
Whilst studying fine art at Bishop Grosseteste College, Lincoln, John had the opportunity to paint the salt marshes at Gibraltar Point and study the work of Archibald Thorburn, Stanhope Forbes and Cotman of the Newlyn and Norwich Schools. John’s distinctive, figurative style known to this day, using dry brush and tonal wash techniques that evolved from these studies continues to allow him to create distance and seasonal atmosphere.
A birdwatching and painting visit to Blakeney Point on the Norfolk Coast in 1971 inspired John to make collections of local watercolours and resulted in him becoming a permanent resident in Norfolk during 2005. Annual exhibitions in Blakeney, Salthouse, Cley and Sheringham have enabled numerous patrons to meet The Artist, acquire original watercolours, prints and illustrated books. He particularly enjoys exhibiting at Cley Marshes Visitors’ Centre overlooking the marshes, where ‘bringing the outside in’ clearly rings true. John always states that without supportive patrons we ‘wouldn’t be anywhere’ and this is certainly the case, as his patrons include the most well-known figures in sport, theatre, royal families, conservation and business.
John always tries to support charities via his patrons, including blood disorders, cancer, poverty and wellbeing that have featured throughout his career.
