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John trained as an Art teacher at Doncaster and in Drama at Derby University. After teaching Art and Drama for several years John became founder member and artistic director of Compact Theatre and has acted professionally (as Harry Connolly) since 1992. John divides his time between painting, acting and writing (with a bias towards painting since 2003). John has written three plays, which have been toured nationally, and he also sings with the oldest boyband in the world ‘Old Spice'. who were recently re named, 'The Shaydes' ARTISTS STATEMENT One of my aims as a performing artist and writer is to make my work accessible to those who do not normally go to the theatre. The plays I have written have all attracted ‘new audiences’ to many theatres both in this country and abroad. I have a keen interest in lansdcape painting. The vast sweeping horizons of the Derbyshire Peak District, the rugged terrain and ever changing light over Cumbria, North Yorkshire Moors and the shorlines of Pembrokeshire and Cornwall all provide me with a rich variety of subject matter" In much of his current work, John is drawn towards the sea and bleakest parts of Cornwall, Yorkshire, Derbyshire and Wales, making the point of interest the horizon where the contrasts of colour, texture and the ever changing light over water enable him to create work with drama and emotion. John rarely includes people in his paintings hoping that the ‘observer’ can experience a feeling of remoteness and ‘sense of place’. Where figures do appear, this is usually to provide focus and scale to the work. COLLECTIONS. | |||||||||||