John Bailey - Artist

About the Artist

My name is John and I live in the Cotswolds in an old cottage in the hill village of Oakridge between Stroud and Cirencester. It is a beautiful part of the world with a wealth of painting opportunities.

Apart from my interest in art I am active walking, sailing, tennis, swimming, etc and have a great love of music playing the piano, guitar and accordion. I also love travel and take my paints and guitar with me.

I am a watercolour landscape artist and although I have been influenced by people like Fletcher Watson, Trevor Waugh, John Christian, Barry Herniman and Jane Lampard I am essentially self taught.

My first love is watercolour because of its freedom, freshness and fluidity and because it has a life of its own. I do most of my painting “en plein air” on the spot and like the immediacy of painting outdoors. Most people see me as quite a loose and direct painter and this is often why people come to me.

Having taught adults for a number of years I get great pleasure from encouraging and helping people develop their work. I also enjoy the company and seeing the satisfaction they get from their achievements. I exhibit with a number of societies including the Fosseway Artists, but my main outlet is my annual exhibition held at my studio and the cottage in the Cotswolds. I also participate in the Stroud Valleys Open Studios.

I now run painting courses and holidays here in the Cotswolds but also in Cornwall, N. Mallorca, Brittany and Croatia and I give regular demonstrations and workshops in the Midlands and South West.