John D Wilson – Artist

John’s journey as an artist began one Christmas at the age of 12, when he was gifted a set of oil paints and an easel. That moment opened up a world of colour and texture—and more than 40 years later, he still paints on the very same easel. His inspirations range from renowned artists such as Banksy and L.S. Lowry to the creativity found within his own family. In fact, his distinctive stick‑figure characters are adapted from his daughter’s childhood scribbles. In an era dominated by digital trickery and special effects, John remains committed to the traditional craft of painting. Every one of his three‑dimensional artworks is created entirely by hand, without digital images or tracing. His unique technique involves painting perspective in reverse: the farthest parts of the scene are rendered largest, while the nearest are smallest. Viewed from a distance, this inversion creates a striking illusion—the background appears to move forward, while the foreground recedes—producing a remarkable 3D effect. Reflecting on his practice, John shares: “Picasso once said he spent his life trying to paint like a child. That inspired me to blend the spontaneity of children’s art with the careful planning of an adult artist. I always look at life through rose‑coloured glasses. I like to find the good in things, and I try to capture that in my paintings.”