John Nelson’s paintings are bright, colourful and abstract with figurative elements. ‘‘I produce paintings which I hope encapsulate my natural joie de vivre and love of colour. Always suspicious of the archetypical, I work directly onto the canvas without preparatory drawing and, as something emerges, I follow and shape intuitively. Ideas for my paintings come from a variety of sources although I am particularly drawn to landscape motifs.’’ John was born in Edinburgh, and studied at Edinburgh College of Art from 1962^1967 where he was awarded a number of painting and drawing prizes which included the Andrew Grant Scholarship. A postgraduate Travelling Scholarship took him to France, Holland and Belgium, creating opportunities for exhibitions in these countries.

From 1971 to 1996 he was an Art Lecturer at Stevenson College, Edinburgh.

As an Edinburgh man he is proud to have been a member of ‘‘The Glasgow League of Artists’’ and to have been elected chairman in 1975^76. Today, John lives in the Scottish Borders where he continues to develop his art.

He has work in many private and public collections.