John Birch

John Birch studied Fine Art at the West of England College of Art (now part of the University of the West of England). After graduating he remained in Bristol continuing to paint and had one man exhibitions at the Axis Gallery, Clifton and at the Bristol Arts Centre. He also took part in group exhibitions at the Arnolfini Gallery, Bristol and the Ikon Gallery, Birmingham.

He then spent the rest of his career as a graphic designer and only recently started painting again after moving to Cornwall in 2013. He quickly became immersed and strongly influenced by the Cornish landscape. Starting to paint again after a break of 40 years he began work on a series of studies of large pebbles found on the local beach at Porthcurnick. Moving on from this he continued working on the shoreline with paintings of abandoned boats rotting away in the backwaters of the Fal estuary. And later, the fishing boats in the small Porth (harbour) at Portscatho.

He is an associate member of Penwith Society of Artists and also exhibits regularly at the New Gallery, Portscatho.

BA(Hons) Fine Art West of England College of Art.

Solo Exhibitions

1968 One man exhibition, Axis Gallery, Clifton, Bristol
1972 One man exhibition, Bristol Arts Centre

Mixed Shows

1975 ‘Big Paintings Show’, (4 artists), Arnolfini Gallery, Bristol
1976 ‘British Realists’ exhibition, Ikon Gallery, Birmingham.
1976 Participating artist in the Arnolfini Gallery picture loan scheme.

2016 Penwith Gallery, St Ives, Winter Associates show
2017 Penwith Gallery, St Ives, mixed show
2017 ‘Imagine Falmouth’ at Falmouth Art Gallery. Painting awarded ‘Highly Commended’
2018 Paintings exhibited in the Penwith Gallery shop area.
2018 ‘Patrick Haughton and friends: 50 years on.’ At the Penwith Gallery, St Ives.
2019 Art World Gallery, Falmouth
2019 New Gallery, Portscatho - ongoing
2019 St Ives Society of Artists Christmas Show
2019 'Imagine Falmouth' at Falmouth Art Gallery
2020 Penwith Gallery, St Ives, Summer Associates show

Exhibits regularly at the New Gallery, Portscatho.
He is an associate member of the Penwith Gallery in St Ives.

Works are in the Arnolfini Gallery collection and private collections.