John Arthur was born and brought up in the English market town of Dorking. After leaving school he trained to be a carpenter, following a tradition that had run in his family for generations. While he enjoyed the work however, John felt that something was missing in his life, and that the only way to fill this void was to travel. He therefore worked hard, saved hard and put together an ambitious plan to see the world. When he finally set off from Dorking Station, the staff were fascinated to hear that his destination was Central Africa!
After several months spent working on ranches from Zambia to South Africa, John Arthur made his way towards the East Coast where he picked up a ship bound for Bombay. From India he took the overland route to Australia via South East Asia, and by the time he reached Bali he found he was brimming over with a desire to paint something of what he had seen and experienced. He had painted in the past, purely for pleasure, but he now felt an overwhelming urgency to express his emotions on canvas, and the confidence that he would be able to produce something really worthwhile. On his arrival in Australia John Arthur continued to travel extensively, but made regular stops in order to paint what he had saw around him.
There was immediate interest in his work and he realised to his surprise and delight that he would be able to fund his lifestyle by selling his paintings. He therefore extended his itinerary and visited many of the remote islands in the South Pacific, before finally returning home after six extraordinary years. Johns unique style is clearly influenced by the intensity and vibrancy of his multicultural experiences. While he often chooses to explore the potential of one particular colour, he still manages to imbue it with a brightness and impact that few artists could hope to achieve.
His love of all wild creatures within their natural habitat has also been a huge inspiration to him, and animals frequently feature in his work. John Arthur has now enjoyed fifteen years as a professional artist, and believes (at the moment!) that England will remain his base. He owns a studio and a gallery, and divides his time between travelling and painting. His paintings continue to win him friends all over the world.
Artists 
