John Wiltshire

Painter living in Kent, United Kingdom.

"John Wiltshire's paintings are painted from real life sources often found in and around the landscape. The animals and objects chosen often relate to traditional or forgotten folk stories. His studio is filled with different species of dead bee, display cases full of found objects and oil paint, the studio like his canvases become a space to investigate the heritage of the natural world and the ancient stories related to the landscape.
Focusing on natural history and storytelling he presents images which are dense in meaning but open to interpretation. The bees are all different species and are vital for life on earth, the bee population dwindling is a major environmental concern. The painting of images from ancient tales encourages us to consider the superstitions of the past as a way of exploring and grounding ourselves in the places we live."
Ashley Gallant, The Collection Lincoln & Usher Gallery

Kent Institute of Art & Design, Canterbury
Ba (Hons) Fine Art; Painting, 1989-1992

Eastbourne College of Arts & Technology, 1986-89

Byard Art, 14 King's Parade, Cambridge
Rye Art Gallery, 107 High Street, Rye, East Sussex
Pocock's the Artmonger, Burnham Market, Norfolk
Creek Creative Open, Abbey Street, Faversham, Kent

Selected by Mark Leckey (Turner Prize 2008) and Jess Flood-Paddock for Opem3, The Collection & Usher Gallery, Lincoln, 2014.

44th Eastern Open, Kings Lynn, 2013, curator Kate Farrell (Lowry) Choice Award.

Selected by Christine Pike for A Husk of Hares touring East Anglia, June-November 2013. Wisbech Museum & Art Gallery, March District Museum, Cambridge Open Studios and Babylon Gallery, Ely.

Park Life, Tunbridge Wells Museum & Art Gallery.

Selected by Stuart Pearson Wright for The Discerning Eye, 2006.

Twice winner of the Royal Watercolour Society 21st Century Watercolour open exhibition (2004, 2006).

RA Summer Show 2004.

The Small Hours, Tunbridge Wells Museum & Art Gallery

Year of the Artist - Artist in Residence (YotA ref: 603) Courier Newspapers Group, Kent 2000-2001.

Fresh Art, Islington, London 1992