John Silver

More normally associated with canine art – although having also created well-received works in the equestrian and landscapes form - celebrated contemporary fine artist, John Silver has of late dabbled to increased effect with the figurative side of illustrative life, producing a selection of sensually shot, semi-nude fantasy compositions; which have afforded him a completely new audience. It’s quite the visual departure for an artist who has habitually manifested individual pieces and collections of resolutely traditional canine canvases over the years spent practising in a professional capacity, yet one which he’s risen to the very different challenges of it would appear.

Based in the Telford area of Shropshire in England’s central area, flirting with the Welsh border country, Silver’s on-going creative story is made all the more remarkable when you discover that he’s completely self-taught as an artist, and having previously mastered the art of his canine figurative, portraiture and landscape-set compositional situations is now almost reinventing himself and his art through his latest genre. Silver describes his new graphical leanings as far looser and ‘arty’ in style, although maintaining his tried and tested oil paints at least the materials remain familiar. In fact Silver even goes as far as to manufacture his very own oils, and applied the methods and 500 year old techniques and materials used by his perpetual artistic inspirations – irrespective of genre – such as Da Vinci, Rembrandt, Titian and Vermeer to name but four.

Born and bred in the famed silk-manufacturing town of Macclesfield in Cheshire back in 1959, Silver can’t recall the first time he committed paint to canvas, although assures us that art coloured his happy childhood growing up in the North West of England. After gaining his BA (Hons) degree in art and design based subjects in 1984, Silver looked to enter (and hopefully makes strides in) the world of employment as a commercial artist. Or as it’s more commonly referred to as these days; a graphic designer. Having said that the first role that Silver landed was that of a photographic retoucher with a leading graphic and photographic agency based in Manchester. However Silver only stayed in this position for 12 months as he arrived at the conclusion that his artistic heart lay in wildlife painting. But despite this Silver remained in the commercially-employed market when a year later – in 1985 – he landed a role as a professional illustrator and freelance retoucher specialising in fantasy air-brush illustrations.

In terms of typical subject matter, it was the era – and emergence of – the home computer, and the majority of the illustrative work Silver was instrumental in the origination of tended to be computer magazine and game covers during this transitional period. At the same time, and at the polar opposite of the compositional scale – Silver was furthering his interest and skillset in the diverse painting techniques of the aforementioned old masters, in his own time. So as to absorb and familiarise himself with their techniques and approach Silver would laboriously copy selected paintings, in some cases taking up to eight months to complete to his exacting satisfaction.

Retrospectively it’s clear to recognise the influence of these legends of their artistic genres and peerless pioneers of creativity in Silver’s signature works, which are all nothing if not highly detailed and atmospheric, and suffice to say such pieces and collections have gone on to be acknowledged – along with Silver’s contribution to the contemporary art industry – over the years, culminating in the nomination and receipt of a number of awards and accolades, as well as seeing his work sold and collected far and wide.