John Boyd-Dunlop found his passion for art later in life, yet despite this later start in his art career he has made up for lost time, as his paintings have become meaningful reflections on life, family, and memories.

Play is an essential ingredient to any artist’s practice, and this is certainly a primary component in John’s work. In true outsider artist fashion, John’s oeuvre is free of the burden of expectation, having become a true exploration of creativity as a self- taught artist. 

John’s work attracts many for their honesty and humour, not just in subject but in the experimentation of mediums; using traditional media in an unconventional manner. John’s paintings are characterised by his playful figures, which sit amongst a celebration of melting colour, textures, and critters plucked right from the imagination. The figure and personality of these characters are built through an intuitive and experimental process of laying materials to canvas, yet also act as explorations of experiences - the past, the present, and future. Tying together this introspection, his titles give hints to greater narrative elements.

Text taken form excerpts by Mark Cross and Karma Percy