"Watching and Waiting" Exhibition 1999

"As the title of my show indicates this year is a very special year for me; I will be watching and waiting for the birth of my first child. My wife Joanne is expecting the baby on the 12th of August; the day after the Eclipse. For the birth of my first child to be due around such a significant and rare event has naturally had an impact on the subject matter of my work.

With a festival of colour and light, this year John's exhibition coincides with the start of the Tall Ships' Race, leaving Falmouth and heading for Portugal in a parade of sail. Tall ships are frequent visitors to the Cornish Harbours, and may often be seen floating majestically in Falmouth Bay. 

When the sun comes out in Cornwall, the landscape fills with colour, the light pours over the vegetation filling each leaf with radiant colours and cool waters into Mediterranean delights.

Standing amongst the palm trees on a clear starry night in Cornwall is a truly magical experience, made even more amazing by the breathtaking sight of the comet Hale-Bopp. As the comet blazed across the night sky it put the curve of the earth and the vast expanse of sky into my mind and this, combined with all the magical colours of Cornwall, is what I have been painting this year.

This year's show brings us the sizzling heat and sunshine frolics we all enjoy on a summer's day. It brings us colourful boats buzzing about on the river, happy people playing on the beach, sumptuous food and flowers on brightly coloured tablecloths - wine ready to pour and scones ready to eat

This year's exhibition promises to create a lively and unfaded vision of Cornwall - a breath of fresh air and colour. The paintings include John's refreshing interpretation of delightful cornish harbours and villages, set alongside his dreamy paintings of floating people, abundant fish and luxurious mermaids.