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Journey Into Abstraction

by John Sprakes (ROI, RBA, MAFA)

Journey Into Abstraction

'Abstraction has allowed me to pursue a personal vision that is full of movement, colour, texture and gesture.'

John Sprakes's retrospective at Beverley Art Gallery covers over 60 years of the artist's professional life. Most importantly, it takes us on a journey from John's early realistic work, towards his later vividly colourful abstractions.

John studied at Edinburgh College of Art and later worked as a college lecturer for 36 years. He exhibited many times across the UK.

John Sprakes

Image: John Sprakes

The Beginnings

In his early work, John focused on realistically depicting traditional formats, such as landscapes and portraits. Often using old toys, hats and costumes in his compositions, John's still-lives were characterised by a sense of mystery. His love of nature is visible in his many landscapes, especially those inspired by Yorkshire, Suffolk, Norfolk and Northumberland.

Inspiration from Nature

The outlines of fields, the reflections in water, and the patches of wet sand on beaches inspired John's love of pattern and colour. The artist gradually shifted his attention to extracting these from nature, mixing abstract compositions with glimpses of real landscapes and locations.

Creative Freedom

Over time, John arrived at fully embracing the abstract aesthetics. His paintings are full of vivid colours, and many use collage-like layers of paper, achieving an almost three-dimensional effect. Throughout his career, John used drawing as an important method of developing his ideas. The spontaneous drawing style feeds into his multi-media approach, where oil and acrylic paints mix with gouache, collage, gold-leaf and other techniques. The result is a true visual feast.

The Figurative Phase

John started as a figurative painter with a very wide scope: still lives, portraits, landscapes and cityscapes alike, all with an impeccable eye for detail. His still-lives, especially, have an almost mystical quality, revealing the secret lives of everyday objects.

The following is a selection of paintings exhibited at Beverley Art Gallery as well as additional artwork from private collections.

Chairs and flowers

Image: Chairs and flowers
Acrylic on Canvas

The large-scale 'Diary', painted with acrylics in a loose watercolour-like style, shows a kaleidoscope of childhood memories, creating a unique alternative to John's usual style.

Image: Diary
Acrylic on Canvas 126x126cm, Private Collection
The large-scale 'Diary', painted with acrylics in a loose watercolour-like style, shows a kaleidoscope of childhood memories, creating a unique alternative to John's usual style.

John's depiction of architecture shows geometric precision and a sense for the dynamic rhythm of lines and ordered shapes.

Image: Early Morning Edinburgh Tenements
Acrylic on Canvas 120 x 86 cm, Private Collection
John's depiction of architecture shows geometric precision and a sense for the dynamic rhythm of lines and ordered shapes.

Although depicted in a realistic manner, John's rendering of the dynamic sea waves is linked to his love of natural forms and textures, later leading into abstraction.

Image: Flight of the Storm Seagull
Acrylic on Canvas 122 x 97 cm
Although depicted in a realistic manner, John's rendering of the dynamic sea waves is linked to his love of natural forms and textures, later leading into abstraction.

Kathy's basket

Image: Kathy's basket
Acrylic on Canvas, Private Collection

Toys appear on many of John's figurative paintings, often in slightly surreal settings. Although all the objects in the paintings are realistically portrayed, these compositions have an eerie, mysterious feel to them.

Image: Open House
Acrylic on Canvas
Toys appear on many of John's figurative paintings, often in slightly surreal settings. Although all the objects in the paintings are realistically portrayed, these compositions have an eerie, mysterious feel to them.

Two Red Chairs

Image: Two Red Chairs
Acrylic on Canvas

Works like 'Whitby Harbour' demonstrate John's capacity to capture technology and industry in all its complexity, while maintaining a softer touch of sensitive colour - such as on the sea reflections or soft pastel-like rendering of the harbour walls. Similar colour-schemes will later appear on his large abstract compositions.

Image: Whitby Harbour Acrylic on Canvas 100x80cm, Private Collection
Works like 'Whitby Harbour' demonstrate John's capacity to capture technology and industry in all its complexity, while maintaining a softer touch of sensitive colour - such as on the sea reflections or soft pastel-like rendering of the harbour walls. Similar colour-schemes will later appear on his large abstract compositions.

Between Two Worlds

John's love of nature can be seen throughout his entire oeuvre. Outdoor sketching and focusing on the beauty of natural forms inspired him to start experimenting with looser painting styles and abstracting shapes and textures from nature. As a result, John created a series of paintings where the worlds of abstraction and figuration overlap.

The following is a selection of paintings exhibited at Beverley Art Gallery as well as additional artwork from private collections.

Alphabet Mug

Image: Alphabet Mug
Acrylic on Canvas 100x100cm

North Yorkshire Landscape

Image: North Yorkshire Landscape
Mixed media on Canvas, Private Collection

Single Seet Head

Image: Single Seed Head
Acrylic on Canvas 100x100cm

Twisted Form against a Stone Wall

Image: Twisted Form against a Stone Wall
Mixed Media on Canvas 91x121cm

Winter Landscape North Yorkshire

Image: Winter Landscape North Yorkshire
Acrylic on Canvas, Private Collection

Arriving At Abstraction

Experimenting with different painting styles led John to discover collage, combined with mixing watercolours and acrylics. His purely abstract paintings are pulsating with vivid colours, mesmerizing textures and glittering touches of gold.

The following is a selection of paintings exhibited at Beverley Art Gallery as well as additional artwork from private collections.

Blue Circle Mauve Square

Image: Blue Circle Mauve Square
Acrylic on Canvas 100x87 cm

Manhattan II

Image: Manhattan II
Mixed Media on Canvas 140x140cm

Study for a Painting

Image: Study for a Painting
Mixed Media 60x50cm

Winter on the Cheviots

Image: Winter on the Cheviots
Mixed Media on Canvas 102x102cm

Distorted Rectangles and Circles

Image: Distorted Rectangles and Circles
Mixed Media on Canvas, 140x140cm

Interlocking Forms

Image: Interlocking Forms
Interlocking Forms

Celebrating Abstract Art

John Sprakes's exhibition 'Journey Into Abstraction' is all about leaving figurative art behind and diving into the world of abstraction. But what does it take to embark on this journey? Download the leaflet below to see how John Sprake's work related to the pioneers of abstract art such as Kandinsky and Af Klint.

Download leaflet

Kandinsky: Painting with a Red Stain, 1914.

Image: Kandinsky: Painting with a Red Stain, 1914.