Jonny’s art is a form of visual storytelling interested in conveying moments of interactions within the natural and man-made environment predominantly during his travelling to the Granada region in Spain.
Due to the high temperatures of this area, there is a sense of meditation, quiet and stillness within the depiction of these sub-tropical environments. His main theme over recent times is to record through observation the point where the sea meets the land. There are invisible lines of separation and division where one piece of land adjoins another.
Disparate areas of shoreline meet and converge with different usage. Some areas are over developed and commercial others are abandoned and left to nature.
The philosophy that everything is a product of an experience frames each work, conveying stories of movement and ideas of colour through seams, lines, and layers. The movement of the sea, the energy created where land interacts with the sea, the rhythms of this hypnotic environment are suggested in these new abstractions.
The physical process is one of the layering glazes of colour, applying thick swathes of pigment, scribing lines to develop emerging patterns and forms. Spontaneous brush marks, blotches and drenched areas of colour frequently occur to capture the elemental content of his chosen subject matter. Jonny’s paintings evolve through complex experimentation of layering of colour and impasto textures.
On the surface, colours appear intense and luminous, but there is great depth to these abstract works.
Biography
Name - Jonny Barrett
Mobile - 07902560156
E-mail- jonnyjbarrett@gmail.com
Education and Qualifications
MPhil in Art and Design - Leeds Metropolitan University (1997)
MA in Art and Design - Leeds Metropolitan University (1996)
Art Teachers Diploma - Liverpool University (1975)
BA (Hons) in Fine Art - Portsmouth Polytechnic (1974)
Work Experience
Full-time Educationalist (1998 to 2017) as a Senor Lecturer in Visual Communications at Birmingham City University and University of Worcester
Part-time visiting Lecturer in Art and Design (1983 to 1998) in various FE and HE institutions
Professional Free Lance Illustrator and Designer (1978 to 1998) for UK and global clients
Partner (1987 to 1998) at Bullet Point Design, UK
Academic External Assessment Posts
University of Huddersfield for the MA in Art and Design (2009-13)
University of Salford - BA (Hons) Design Futures, BA (Hons) Graphic Design & BA (Hons) Advertising (2006-09)
Swansea Metropolitan University - BA (Hans) Graphic Design, BA (Hans) Illustration (2003-2005)
University of Exeter - HND Illustration Verification (2000)
Membership of Professional Bodies
Corporate member of D&AD at BCU (2000 - 2015)
Corporate member of the AOI at BCU (2000 - date)
Member of the AOI (1989 - 1998)
Member of Illustrators North (1992 - 1998)
Member of The Typographic Circle (1994 - 1998)
Member of CSD (1994 - 1998)
Publications
‘The Northern Soul Scene’: published in 2019 (ISBN 1781795584)
‘Keeping the Faith’: self-published book in 2004 (ISBN 09-548982-0-6)
Exhibitions
2022
‘Orilla’ exhibition at Sala 98 in Frigliana, Malaga
Ruta del Arte, exhibition at Sala 98 Frigliana, Malaga
2021
‘Recollections’ exhibition at Bloom Space, Malvern
Ruta del Arte, exhibition at Sala 98 Frigliana, Malaga
Galerie Luz Art Walk, Competa, Malaga
Open (Isolation) at The Old Lock Up Gallery, Matlock
‘Shoreline’ at the Stables Gallery, Leominster
2020
‘La Herradura’ at the Stables Gallery, Leominster
Broadway Arts Festival Open Art, Worcestershire
‘Rebuilding Eden’, Garden Gallery, Cheltenham
2019
‘Costa Tropical’ at the Stables Gallery, Leominster
‘Babe Artists Books Events’ at the Arnolfini Gallery, Bristol
Galerie Luz Art Walk, Competa, Malaga
‘Costa’ at the Sala de Exposiciones, Nerja
2018
‘Costa Tropical’ exhibition and artist’s residency at the Galleria El Casino, Salobrena, Granada,
Galerie Luz Art Walk, Competa, Malaga
‘4 Artists’ Riogordo Gallery, Malaga
‘Fiesta de Arte’, Almunecar, Granada
2017
‘Babe Artists Books Events’ Arnolfini Gallery, Bristol
Marbella Art Fair, (FIAM), Malaga
2016
‘Elements’ a collaborative show of Malvern Contemporary Artist’s Group at Elmslie House Gallery, Malvern
‘Open Studio’ exhibition at the Fold, Worcester
Invited artist at the Print Shed, Hereford
‘Salo Arte’, Salobrena, Granada
2015
‘Babe Artists Books Events’ Arnolfini Gallery, Bristol
‘Interpretations’ at Galleria de Casa Apero, Frigiliana, Malaga
Solo show at Luz de la Vida, Competa, Malaga
Galerie Luz Art Walk, Competa, Malaga
Launch of Studio Mercado in Malaga, Art IS Malaga at Mercado Merced, Malaga
Art Symposium Luz de la Vida, Malaga
‘Poet in New York’ at the University of Hong Kong Art Gallery
2014
Liverpool Book Art Event, Pages Event at Leeds Art Book Fair
‘Being Human Publication’ by Pittville Press, The Wilson Art Gallery, Cheltenham
2013
Launch of Books ‘Poet in New York’ at the Manchester Artist’s Book Fair
2012
Launch of Box set of prints ‘Poet in New York’ at the Leeds Artist’s Book Fair and exhibition at Leeds College of Art Library
Artist’s Book Festival, The Tetley Gallery, Leeds
2011
Inclusion in touring show of Images 35 from the Association Of Illustrators
2010
Inauguration exhibition of ‘Keeping the Faith’ photography at the Museum of Club Culture in Hull
2009
Birmingham Art Gallery Open Exhibition
2008
Launch of the book and exhibition of ‘Do I Love You’ by Paul McDonald at The New Art Gallery, Walsall
‘Artists Books’ at The Wolstenholme Gallery Liverpool, Manchester Metropolitan University and University of Brighton
‘Dry Points’ at The Fine Art Gallery, Birmingham City University
Public and Corporate Collections
Bloom Space UK
Birmingham City University
Private Collections
Throughout EU
Canada
UK
Hong Kong
Morocco