Artist: John Napper

[kriskwery]

I've recently read a Times obituary for this English artist (1916-2001) and would like to view some of his work (the photograph of him included a cat portrait on the easel and this I particularly like). Any ideas? I've not had much success on the web.

[Horse]

Try www.artist-info.com The last exhibition I can find at the moment was in Wales last Fall.

[gillen]

John Napper, was an old and dear friend to my parents, infact my sister was called after johns wife Pauline. Our family have several john napper paintings which john did of my other sister Aine.. I know that there is a gallery on madison avenue new york that deals in john napper paintings, but im not sure of the name,,

[alex william]

During the late 1970's I worked with Richard Booth (King of Hay), John Napper was a frequent visitor and painted two portraits of"The King", he also painted a mural on wall above the picture rail in the sitting room at Richard's house Brynmelin in Cusop.
I did some design and printing for JN and he gave me a small drawing, he taught at St Martin's where I was a student and he was very kind and encouraging when I showed him my work.
The best portrait of Richard painted by John is owned by Dory Dutton who's brother Davis Dutton runs a bookshop in the San Fernando valley Los Angeles.
The best anectote I know about JN concerns his appearance on an early morning chat show in New York- he was about to open a show with his dealer there and gave what Richard Booth claimed was the shortest interview in the history of television, when asked what were his paintings about he answered, "I paint pussy's", they imeadiately switched to a comercial and John was invited to leave the studio.

[kriskwery]

Thank you, Gillen and Alex for your very personal responses - great story about the interview.

I really should find some time to seek out some of John's work .... part-time retirement in 6 months' time might give me the opportunity!

Best wishes

[IowaGirl]

My father recently passed away. I have always been fascinated with a painting he had in his living room. It is called "Paris" - I brought it home and have had it in the basement for over a month. I got it out and looked at it today and it clearly says J Napper PARIS above his name. Let me tell you this painting has always held me captive. I do not know where my dad got this but knowing my dad, he probably pulled it out of a dumpster having and eye and being a person who sketches and draws things himself. I think I can call myself very lucky.

[Steadman]

John Napper was a remarkable man as well as a remarkable painter. It is thrilling to know that his work touches people in far removed places. He loved New York as much as he loved Paris although his heart was always in the remote countryside of England where he sought in his later years to recreate paradise and concentrate all he had learned into an essential form. You might find an article interesting to read. It appeared in Resurgence magazine in the year he died. The link is here http://www.resurgence.org/resurgence/issues/sk elly220.htm
This article is a cut down version of a longer piece which considered his art and working process in more detail and his philosophical insight which was acute and rare. This article was published by the Temenos Academy in 2001.
An exhibition of his work from the 1950s is planned for the June of 2008 at the Silk Top Hat Gallery in Ludlow, Shropshire. But if you are ever in London it is always worth trying to slip into the Chapel Royal at St James's Palace on a Sunday morning to see his wonderful window which dominates the north wall of one of the oldest chapels in all England. John began the window but alas never saw completed. It was commissioned by the Prince of Wales who continues to value his work and gained much from his philosophy.