John Mcdonald

Born in a Glasgow tenement in a sectarian district, I left school with a piece of paper (no certificates) saying that I was deaf and would be best employed in a noisy environment as everyone would be similarly disadvantaged.

Born under the image of Christ of St John of the Cross by Salvador Dali. This huge painting in Kelvingrove art gallery seems to have an impact on me becoming an Artist in my 50s. Can I say that I spent years of my childhood evading gallery custodians and sliding along the polished floor under this painting?

Unknown to me at the time, this painting by Dali, with its dynamic perspective and monumental scale, planted the seed for a love of art, and awakened the soul of this deaf kid from Drumchapel. When I first picked up a piece of charcoal as an adult and started to draw, it was a version of Dali's Christ of St John of the Cross which I created.

Following a decade working in noisy environments, my real education began: in a Merseyside Unemployed Resource Centre. Training to become a Welfare Rights Officer I became hungry for education. In becoming mentally astute in the law, politics, and history that inform welfare and union work, I found, with naivety, myself.

My fine art practice is informed...

Bachelor of Arts University of Derby
Drama & Social Sciences

Arts Council Arts Mark Assessor

Inspired Reflections: Beautiful Burdens
8 Nov 2018 to 12 Jan 2019
Deda Chapel Street Derby DE1 3GU

Selected Works
Sept to Dec 2018
The Enterprise Centre Bridge Street University of Derby

Alchemy
Air Arts Exhibition
Mar to Oct 2018
London Road Community Hospital DE1 2QY

Butterfly Cry
Solo Exhibition 16 April to 18 May 2018
Banks Mill Studios Bridge Street Derby DE1 3LB

BBC Arts The Big Yin
BBC Arts features painting The Big Yins on the 75th Birthday of Sir Billy Connolly November 2017

A Pilgrimage of Art
A Glasgow Affair installed St Mary's Church Derby
1 to 30 September 2017

West Studios Open
Exhibition September 2017 West Studios Chesterfield

Without and Butterfly Cry
The Enterprise Centre University of Derby
June to Dec 2017

Frida Kahlo
Exhibition 26 Sept to 6 Oct
The Corn Exchange Cardigan Ceredigion

Well Connected
19 to 22 May 2017
Derby QUAD Market Place Cathedral Quarter Derby

Flora & Fauna
9-13 May
The Corn Exchange Cardigan Ceredigion

Oct 2015
World Mental Health Day
Spoken Word with Choreographed BSL Performance

Rosas
Film Trilogy Assistant Director Derby & Madrid
Feb to Sept 2012
with Derby QUAD, Arts Council & Matadero Museum

Black Sheep
Apr to June 2009
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