John Holdcroft was born in Bristol in 1926, and educated at the Bristol Cathedral School.
In 1944 John was called up & later held a commission in The Black Watch seeing service in Germany. After four years as a solider followed by two months in Carthusian Monastery at Cowfold in Surrey, he studied at the West Of England College of Art.
During his time at Art College he was president of the Students' Union for two consecutive years. He gained NDD, and the Edward Houtlon Advertising Scholarship. In 1952 the latter took him to London to the Studios of Colman Prentis and Varley in Grosvenor Street. John found London demanding and claustrophobic. He felt he must find clean air and open skies. He suddenly chose to live on the Channel Island of Sark. There he met an ex RAF Fighter Pilot and together they bought a boat and for three years successfully worked the tides as offshore fishermen, until the sudden death of his fishing partner.
John set up a gallery on the Island, there he stayed for five years, then moved to Island of Alderney, became a local BBC west country correspondent, and likewise for the now defunct News Chronicle. He continued his development as a painter. About this time he spent a long summer in Norway, working with the director of the Oslo Museum & producing a series of large pen drawings of the city. In 1960 he returned to London, once more to the world of advertising. He became one of a select group of artists formed by the late Stanhope Shelton (a doyen of the advertising world) at Mather & Crowther to transform the creative approach to Tv storyboard design.
After five years, John applied for a teaching post at the Plymouth College of Art & Design. Interviewed, he found himself appointed as a lecturer in Graphic Design. He combined this post with that of Graphic Designer for Westward TV. John moved to St Leonard's in 1967. He became Head of Graphic at Hastings College. He retired as Deputy Head of Art & Design after fifteen years. During this time he was elected a Fellow of the Chartered Society of Designers.
A chance meeting with the President of Portuguese Bank resulted in Madeira becoming john's focus of attention for the next six years. Along with producing work for the various branches of the Bank, John undertook six solo exhibitions in Madeira, Lisbon & Oporto. Later John lived near Lisbon for several years. A 30 minute documentary about John & his work was made by Portuguese Television.
John's work has been shown in London with Royal Water Colour society, the Affordable Art Fair & the Royal British artists Galleries. Locally at Rye Society of Arts, Stable Gallery, Conquest Hospital & at the Hastings Museum. John is a member of the British Humanist Association, now he lives near Fairlight with his wife Valerie Olsen
John would like to personally add " in his experience the friendly professionalism of the staff & the chums he meets at Fletcher's ensures he leaves the premises more refreshed and optimistic than he arrives " . Thank you John for your kind words, also the in-sight into your truly colourful & interesting life. It's a pleasure for our paths to have crossed within Fletchers .
Below are a few of Johns pictures, subjects range from local to remote & present day to the distance past
I love John Holdcroft's work.
ReplyDeleteI am not an artist but when I see a painting and I feel as though I am standing looking at the view, and I can almost feel the heat of the day and smell the scent of the place I know that I have been touched and transported. He is such skilful man. Thank you John
Stephen Kearney CEO RE:generate and Partner to Cabinet Office and Locality for Community Organisers Programme
My family and friends are also tremendous fans of John and his work. It's lovely to see this level of recognition; everything John does is much admired for its distinctive style and dream like quality, whether in his traditional form or a more contemporary vein.
ReplyDeleteMaureen.
John Holdroft, such a sensitive artist, a master with his pencils and brushes, a man with such neat sense of humor, a lovely person. I had the privilege of meeting John when he lived in Cascais, Portugal and treasure not only the years we met in lunches and galleries but the fun conversations about life in general. I am one of those lucky people with beautiful water colors hanging in my living room and the best memories of good moments spent together. Parabéns dear John,and wishes that you are still painting delightful master pieces....saudades, jenny
ReplyDeleteProbably his least promising student when he was my Head of Department, when the old Hastings School of Art moved to the college. However, seeing his outstanding style did inspire me, and found me a medium that I could work with. Although it's never provided me a career, it has given me skills that I use often. Thank you John for your work, and your approach to life.
ReplyDelete