John No. 6 Print

Biography: Austen Pinkerton Austen Pinkerton was born in 1951 in North Harrow, north-west London, and educated locally at Pinner County Grammar School, leaving with nine 'O' (Ordinary) level, and four 'A' (Advanced) level passes. On leaving school he began study at the Oxford School of Architecture, Oxford polytechnic, where he spent the first two years. While at Oxford he had a one-man show at the Oxford Playhouse, described by the university magazine 'Isis', as 'A delightful breath of fresh air in the gallery'.* At the end of the second year it was suggested that he should consider transferring to Art College, as a result of pictures he included in a second year final exhibition. He then went to Goldsmiths College, London University, School of Art, graduating in 1976 with a Batchelor of Arts: Fine Art (Painting). At Goldsmiths School of Art the Principal was Jon Thompson, later mentor to the likes of Damian Hirst, and his tutors included the artists Albert Irvin O.B.E., Basil Beatty, and Andrew Brighton, later to be curator of public events at Tate Modern. The painting school was in the old Surrey Docks Office building, Rotherhithe, at which there was a break-in, and six of his paintings were stolen (and none by any other student to his knowlege). None have ever been recovered. After leaving Goldsmiths he returned to architecture in order to earn a living. He subsequently worked for about 30 years part-time in a variety of Architectural- related fields, whilst continuing to Paint, Draw, and make Sculptures. For a while he was illustrating and designing the interiors of English traditional pubs in this country, and also, later, abroad,... notably Italy, France and Spain. He has also worked on interior refurbishments of the Law Society, and the Royal College Of Surgeons. Meanwhile he exhibited his work at many galleries in London,…in particular The Blackheath Gallery, Krane arts, the contemporary arts wing of Krane Kalman, also The Talent Store, Graffitti Gallery, Gagliardi Gallery, and, repeatedly, at The Horniman Museum, South London, and the Gloucester Gallery, Kensington, run by Joan Catlin, former Registrar of The Royal College Of Art, and to one of which exhibitions Sir Eduardo Paolozzi visited by invitation to see his work. ( Paolozzi was a friend of Joan's from the Royal College ). Between 1990 and 1996 he opened and ran a gallery in East Dulwich, south London, ..