Ewart Johns (1923-2013) Welsh Artist & Sculptor

Ewart Johns was a British painter, muralist, draughtsman, and academic whose career spanned over six decades. Born in Barry, Glamorgan, in 1923, Johns’ life was a rich tapestry of artistic exploration, intellectual inquiry, and educational leadership. His work, deeply rooted in the traditions of British modernism, remains a testament to his enduring fascination with form, colour, and the human landscape.

Early Life and Education

Johns’ artistic journey began at Cardiff College of Art, where he studied under the influential Welsh artist Ceri Richards, whose expressive style and modernist leanings left a lasting impression on the young Johns. He later attended St John’s College, Cambridge, earning a First-Class Honours degree in Geography, a discipline that would inform his later work in urban design and landscape painting.

Academic and Artistic Career

Johns seamlessly blended academia and art. He taught in the Department of Geography at Exeter University from 1948 to 1971, where his research focused on urban design, culminating in a book on British townscapes. In 1972, he became the founding head of the Department of Visual Arts at Lancaster University, a role that allowed him to shape arts education in Britain.

Despite his academic commitments, Johns maintained a prolific output as a freelance artist, exhibiting widely across the UK and internationally. His solo shows at the Grabowski Gallery in London from 1961 onward, and a major retrospective in 1981 at the University College of Wales, Cardiff, and Lancaster University, showcased the evolution of his style—from Cubist-influenced forms in the 1950s to the intense, luminous oil pastels of the 1970s.

Artistic Style and Influences

Johns’ work is characterised by a strong emphasis on line and colour, often exploring the expressive potential of the human figure and landscape. His early works were subdued in palette, reflecting Cubist structural concerns, while later pieces embraced freer, more vibrant compositions. He was deeply influenced by 20th-century artistic movements, yet maintained a distinctive voice that resisted easy categorisation.

His time in the United States (1969–70) further expanded his artistic vocabulary, introducing him to contemporary movements that he integrated into his own practice. In his later years, as his eyesight deteriorated, Johns turned to wood sculpture, continuing to explore visual concepts through tactile means.

Peers, Friends, and Family

While specific names of close artistic peers are less documented, Johns’ collaborative spirit was evident in his work with institutions like Exeter University’s Psychology Department, where he created a video documenting his creative process. His family played a vital role in preserving his legacy—his son Nick Johns and grandson Philip Johns maintain his website and archive, ensuring his work remains accessible to future generations.

Legacy and Market Presence

Johns’ influence on the British art scene is notable for its breadth and depth. He contributed significantly to arts education, mentored countless students, and left behind a substantial body of work housed in collections such as the University of Exeter, St John’s College, Cambridge, and the Arts Council of Wales.

While not commanding the high prices of more commercially prominent contemporaries, his works are consistently sought after, particularly by collectors interested in mid-20th-century British art and academic modernism.

Ewart Johns’ art holds a quiet but compelling place in the British modernist canon. His commitment to exploration over repetition, and his ability to merge academic insight with artistic intuition, make his oeuvre particularly rich for study and appreciation. Though his market frequency is moderate, the intellectual and aesthetic depth of his work ensures enduring interest among curators, scholars, and discerning collectors.

Sources: www.artbiogs.co.uk and other webpages and articles