Commentary from Rosemary Pretty

At the first exhibition of John's that I went to in 1987 I was electrified and I immediately bought a charcoal drawing of a Cyprus landscape. It has given me so much pleasure over the years. The title - "Thank you Marcus" refers to the local taxi driver who used to drive John out into the hills to paint and draw.

Since that time I have bought several more of John's works. I love them all. I have two oil paintings one of Victoria Station and the other of the Cathedral at Angoulême - both painted in situ. I also have three prints. A monoprint of a streetscene in Hammersmith, an etching of Fleet Street and my particular favourite - an etching of a young girl lying down on her side. It has always hung in my sitting room and gives me so much pleasure every evening.

Rosemary Pretty - collector