John Wells (artist)
Encyclopedia
John Wells was an artist and maker of relief constructions, associated with the St Ives
group.
He was born in London
, and trained as a doctor at University College Hospital
. He learned to paint at evening classes at St Martin’s School of Art
. From 1936 to 1945, he worked as a General Practitioner
for the Isles of Scilly
. After the Second World War he decided to pursue a full-time career as an artist. At that time he settled in Newlyn
, Cornwall
and became closely involved with the renowned artistic community at the nearby town of St. Ives.
He was the co-founder of the Crypt Group and the Penwith Society of artists
. He worked with Barbara Hepworth
from 1950 to 1951 and exhibited regularly in London, the provinces and abroad. His work is represented in the Tate Gallery
. His works of geometric abstraction were influenced by Gabo
, Ben Nicholson
and Barbara Hepworth
.
Wells died on July 28, 2000 on the Penwith peninsula, at the southwest tip of Cornwall.
An exhibition held at the Tate St Ives
in 2007, celebrated the centenary of his birth .
St Ives, Cornwall
St Ives is a seaside town, civil parish and port in Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. The town lies north of Penzance and west of Camborne on the coast of the Celtic Sea. In former times it was commercially dependent on fishing. The decline in fishing, however, caused a shift in commercial...
group.
He was born in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, and trained as a doctor at University College Hospital
University College Hospital
University College Hospital is a teaching hospital located in London, United Kingdom. It is part of the University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and is closely associated with University College London ....
. He learned to paint at evening classes at St Martin’s School of Art
Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design
Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design is a constituent college of the University of the Arts London. The school has an outstanding international reputation, and is considered one of the world's leading art and design institutions...
. From 1936 to 1945, he worked as a General Practitioner
General practitioner
A general practitioner is a medical practitioner who treats acute and chronic illnesses and provides preventive care and health education for all ages and both sexes. They have particular skills in treating people with multiple health issues and comorbidities...
for the Isles of Scilly
Isles of Scilly
The Isles of Scilly form an archipelago off the southwestern tip of the Cornish peninsula of Great Britain. The islands have had a unitary authority council since 1890, and are separate from the Cornwall unitary authority, but some services are combined with Cornwall and the islands are still part...
. After the Second World War he decided to pursue a full-time career as an artist. At that time he settled in Newlyn
Newlyn
Newlyn is a town and fishing port in southwest Cornwall, England, United Kingdom.Newlyn forms a conurbation with the neighbouring town of Penzance and is part of Penzance civil parish...
, Cornwall
Cornwall
Cornwall is a unitary authority and ceremonial county of England, within the United Kingdom. It is bordered to the north and west by the Celtic Sea, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Cornwall has a population of , and covers an area of...
and became closely involved with the renowned artistic community at the nearby town of St. Ives.
He was the co-founder of the Crypt Group and the Penwith Society of artists
Penwith Society of artists
The Penwith Society of Arts is an art group formed in St Ives, Cornwall, UK in early 1949 by abstract artists who broke away from the more conservative St Ives Society of Artists. It was originally led by Barbara Hepworth and Ben Nicholson, and included members of the Crypt Group of the St Ives...
. He worked with Barbara Hepworth
Barbara Hepworth
Dame Barbara Hepworth DBE was an English sculptor. Her work exemplifies Modernism, and with such contemporaries as Ivon Hitchens, Henry Moore, Ben Nicholson, Naum Gabo she helped to develop modern art in Britain.-Life and work:Jocelyn Barbara Hepworth was born on 10 January 1903 in Wakefield,...
from 1950 to 1951 and exhibited regularly in London, the provinces and abroad. His work is represented in the Tate Gallery
Tate Gallery
The Tate is an institution that houses the United Kingdom's national collection of British Art, and International Modern and Contemporary Art...
. His works of geometric abstraction were influenced by Gabo
Naum Gabo
Naum Gabo KBE, born Naum Neemia Pevsner was a prominent Russian sculptor in the Constructivism movement and a pioneer of Kinetic Art.-Early life:...
, Ben Nicholson
Ben Nicholson
Benjamin Lauder "Ben" Nicholson, OM was a British painter of abstract compositions , landscape and still-life.-Background and Training:...
and Barbara Hepworth
Barbara Hepworth
Dame Barbara Hepworth DBE was an English sculptor. Her work exemplifies Modernism, and with such contemporaries as Ivon Hitchens, Henry Moore, Ben Nicholson, Naum Gabo she helped to develop modern art in Britain.-Life and work:Jocelyn Barbara Hepworth was born on 10 January 1903 in Wakefield,...
.
Wells died on July 28, 2000 on the Penwith peninsula, at the southwest tip of Cornwall.
An exhibition held at the Tate St Ives
Tate St Ives
Tate St Ives is an art gallery in St Ives, Cornwall, England, exhibiting work by modern British artists, including work of the St Ives School. The three storey building, designed by architects Evans and Shalev, lies on the site of an old gas works, overlooking Porthmeor Beach. It was opened in...
in 2007, celebrated the centenary of his birth .