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Profile: John Lyons

The Caribbean-born Artist John Lyons often relies upon the rich vernacular folklore and mythology of his homeland to conjure up images of such immense power that you can hardly take your eyes off them. Lyons describes his work as an 'ambivalent pleasure' and a 'playful dialogue' but they are much more than that. Intuitive and breathtaking, courageous and disturbing- when you consider a painting such as 'Birth Of Soucoyant' or 'Folklore Convention' you are intrigued and repelled in equal measure, as you are forced to acknowledge your own unique reaction to such powerful imagery.

"When you consider one of John's paintings, you are intrigued and repelled in equal measure, as you are forced to acknowledge your own unique reaction to such powerful imagery."

An Artist with an incredible career behind him, Lyons has considerable achievements in visual arts, curating, poetry, teaching, adjudication and he was even a Purchaser for the Arts Council National Collection in the eighties. He co-founded the Hourglass Studio Gallery in Hebden Bridge in Yorkshire and remains a board member to this day.

We are immensely proud to be working with an Artist of Lyon's skill and standing. He has such a vast back-catalogue that a major retrospective of his important career is long overdue.


John will be participating in Cambridge Open Studios in 2012, for the first time in many years. Click here for more information!


John has his own website at www.JohnLyons.org