Johnny is an emerging sculptor and artist working mainly in marble and local limestones. He also uses plywood, print, collage and drawing to bring his works to life.
He works from his studio in North Yorkshire
Selected works in marble, limestones, plywood and print
About Johnny
In mid-2019 he took an opportunity to leave a corporate role of 24 years.
The pandemic allowed him to adjust to a solitary life in the studio, conscious in thought and with ample time he was able to practice, refine his skills and develop the confidence to bring his ideas forth.
2020 with the re-opening of borders he travelled to Italy where he refined and extended his abilities working in a studio in Pietrasanta. This gave him much needed confidence, to produce work which was his own, developing ideas into sketches through to finished works. He continues to travel Europe on a regular and frequent basis, learning new techniques, meeting new artists, sourcing stone for his work and exploring the myriad of modernist architectural wonders that it has to offer
Johnny has an enduring interest in architecture but “I’m academically challenged” so that career path wasn’t an option. Now fully fulfilled in sculpture, he draws on the richness of architecture, a passionate advocate of Modernism he incorporates these traits within his work “these [mid-century] buildings occupy space so defiantly, at odds with landscape and man, asymmetrical lines and plains, bold surfaces which end abruptly, edges forming dramatic shadows, these are all elements which I reflect in my own humble way … “sometimes I reflect, are my sculptures unconscious designs for structures/machines”
Inspiration for his work comes from mythology but also the future, an anxious, dark dystopian future
He works mainly in stone, enjoying the continuity of the material, the sense of permanence but more importantly the rhythm of the act of carving. He uses the stone as a means to an end
Carving is peaceful, meditative, slow, its full of solitude which gives time for reflection, it’s work that’s best done outdoors, albeit sometimes constrained by the Yorkshire elements”.
He also works in plywood. This allows for a looser, quicker, creative process, it can be moulded and shaped but still has a uniformity which he likes. Colour can be applied, so often its quite a useful contrast from working in the natural/neutral tones of stone. Often, he’ll try and realise an early idea in plywood before committing to a later variation in stone… “I never work direct from a maquette. I always prefer direct carving. Its feels more honest”
When not working in 3d he works in pen, ink, collage combined with found objects and printing.
Johnny’s new to exhibiting so it’s early days. His current focus is on building a body of work for future exhibitions
He is a former student of the Leeds School of Art and Marcia Bennett-Male RSS
His work has been exhibited at
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Onform. Asthall Manor, Burford
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The Sculpture Gallery, Leeds
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Newby Hall, Ripon
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The Great Yorkshire Show, Harrogate
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Blake Exhibition, Leeds Central Square – with thanks to CBRE
Johnnysunter@outlook.com or +44 7414 144 140