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Portraits Pets and People
John Cole
A website dedicated to John Cole is now up and running and has been updated. Many thanks to Roger Hewitt, Carl and Sally Miller for making it possible. John is finally getting some attention. AD
https://johncoleart.wordpress.com/
Man Standing by John Cole Oil on Board
Miniatures
These two miniatures were accepted into the Royal Society of Miniaturists show at the Mall Galleries in London. They are watercolours on Vellum and measure 3 1/2″ High by 2 3/4″ wide.
I really enjoyed doing these and it was a return to how I used to work when I started as an illustrator in the late 70’s.
My friend Amy kindly commissioned this small portrait in a time of need. Amy travels a lot and so did this painting to reach her in China around New Year 2018.
PETS
John Cole Remembered
Update for this post. To view John Cole’s work click on this link- https://johncoleart.wordpress.com/
Back in April I was contacted by Carl Miller an art collector and his wife Sally. They had acquired three John Cole paintings at an auction in Battle, Sussex. It was fortuitous that good old Google pointed them in my direction to a post on this site. The portrait below is from that post.
I met John in 2001 and we started to explore the fledgling art regeneration scene here in Thanet, neither of us knowing any other artists.
I found John’s work immediately compelling. It had a blend of ‘London School’ ‘Kitchen Sink’ and surrealism and Pop Art. Dark emotional tones mixed with literary and movie references, shades of Freud, Bacon, Bratby, Kossoff.
I felt that I had known John for a lot longer than the two years up until his premature death in 2003. He had great memories of working in London for Alfred Hecht framers and Guilders and his brother continued there for decades.
John didn’t go to art school but be produced work steadily throughout his life. Carl has acquired quite a few strong examples of John’s paintings and intends to show them with his collection at some point in the future. I’m more than happy to help him realise this in the long term.
For now here are a few examples of the work and I am about to start a portfolio site with more biographical details with help from one of John’s old friends, Roger. When the site is up I will include a link in this post and a post with a link on that date.
Man Standing by John Cole Oil on Board
Back in action
I haven’t posted for quite a while and after a dalliance with the surgeons knife it’s time to catch up.
Part of my physiotherapy was this community project kindly provided by Dave and Nicki Goodwin who own and run Goodwins of Westbrook established in the 1930’s. It was a fun to do, and helped rebuild my stamina and concentration. I’m always glad to volunteer some time to help beautify the neighbourhood.
And what would the Seaside be without some saucy postcard action?
Here’s a long term project for the future. An original Ford Van, the same year and make as Dave’s Grandfather’s, 1938? I’ll check.
I’ll keep you posted on this one.
Miniatures
Old Commission
’66 And all That
A recently finished commission. The brief was to create a commemorative group portrait of the three West Ham players who played a vital role in winning the 1966 World Cup for England.
The image below completes Bobby Moore holding the trophy exactly 50 years ago.
When Nick the owner assembles the Lambretta I will post the completed project in the Custom section.
Delphi Restaurant Mural
Here is a mural recently completed for the Delphi Restaurant at Ramsgate Harbour. The developer and owner George Fellas and his partner Sophia have created a traditional Greek ‘feel’ to the basement space.
It was created over two months and the idea was to have an open image view which compensates for the lack of windows (there is only one) . It also reflects the harbour marina setting upstairs. A fantastic location.
I wish George and Sophia all the best, also Bambo. Stelios the chef and Olga. I’m sure it will be a welcoming place for the Greek community and brings an extra choice for the hungry hordes of Ramsgate.
I will try to add some sharper images. My camera wasn’t quite up to the job.



Amy
Lydia
Cassandra



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