John Stillman is a well known Surrey artist. Born in Carshalton in 1968, he is completely self taught and has been drawing and painting since a very young age. Before becoming a professional artist in 2006, John worked as a book illustrator and then as a graphic artist for over twelve years in the advertising industry in London.
John’s paintings capture the delicacy and beauty of light and atmosphere across a wide range of subjects from landscapes of Surrey and scenes from around the River Thames, which he paints alongside his fellow members of the prestigious Wapping Group of Artists, to which he was elected full membership in 2009. There are only 25 full members allowed at anyone time and the group meets from April to September at selected locations along the River Thames to paint.
John also enjoys capturing the atmosphere of events such as a day at the Epsom races, the excitement of fireworks on bofire night, the thrill of sledging on a cold winters day or the spectacle of a trip to the circus.
John has held many successful solo exhibitions and his paintings have featured in group and open exhibitions including The Royal Society of Marine Artists and The Royal Institute of Oil Painters at the Mall Galleries in London.
He has also had his paintings exhibited at The Royal Academy Summer Exhibitions.
In addition to the Wapping Group, John sits on the council of the Chelsea Art Society and is a member of the Croydon Art Society.
In 2014 John was elected an Associate Member to The Royal Society of Marine Artists.
His paintings are held in numerous private collections in the United Kingdom, France, the United States of America and Australia.