Biography

Sherborne School, Dorset. Longmuir Prize for Drawing.

Byam Shaw School of Drawing and Painting, London 1962 – 65: National Diploma in Design.

Painted in London and Paris.

Bretton Hall College of Education 1966 – 67: Certificate in Education.

Teacher of Art and Design for 36 years (31 in Highland): Retired November 2003 to devote more time to painting.

Joined WASPS Inverness Creative Academy in December 2018

Selected exhibitions:
Highland Open 1987 (Regional Purchase Award), 1990, 1992, 1994, 1998.

Just Art, Fochabers, Sept. 1995, May 1999.

Logie Steading, Spring Exhibition, 1996, 1999, 2005, 2009 (and mixed exhibitions).

The Bridge Art Gallery, Dublin, opening Exhibition Nov 1996.

Torrance Gallery, Edinburgh (two person show) Nov 1998.

The Cottage Gallery, Poolewe, ‘Northern Exposure’ 2000.

Tore Art gallery, opening Exhibition Nov 2004 and subsequent mixed exhibitions.

Castle Gallery, Inverness, Christmas Exhibition Nov 2004 and subsequent mixed exhibitions.

Nairn Book and Arts Festival, June 2005 onwards.

Number Forty Six, Ballater, March 2006 to 2009.

The Milton Gallery, Crathes, June 2007 to 2008.

The Atholl Gallery, Dunkeld, June 2007 and further mixed exhibitions.

Royal Scottish Academy: RSA Open Exhibition, 30 October to 15 December 2010.

Royal Scottish Academy: RSW Open Exhibition 4 February to 1 March 2012.

VAS members Exhibition, Dumfries, 5 October to 9 November 2013.

RGI Winter Exhibition, Kelly Gallery, Glasgow, 30 November to 21 December 2013.

Royal Scottish Academy: RSA Open Exhibition, 23 November to 26 January 2014.

Castle Gallery, Inverness, joint exhibition John Nicholson and Biddy Nicholson 3 - 24 May 2014.

Royal Scottish Academy: RSW Open Exhibition 16 - 31 January 2015.

Royal Scottish Academy: Work by VAS members 2015 onwards.

Royal Scottish Academy: RSW Open Exhibition 27 November 2015 to 12 December 2015.

Royal Scottish Academy: RSA Open Exhibition, 28 November to 14 February 2016.

Royal Scottish Academy: RSW Open Exhibition 26 November to 13 December 2018.

Inverness Creative Academy WASPS Open Studios and Market Day exhibitions 2019

VAS member's selected online exhibition 'FLOW' 1 December 2020 to 31 January 2021

Aberdeen Artist's Society Online Open Exhibition 11 June to 29 August 2021

Solo exhibitions:
Howie’s Restaurant, Edinburgh in association with the Kingfisher Gallery.

Castle Gallery, Inverness, 9 – 31 March 2007.

In addition, John has exhibited in Eden Court Theatre and Inverness Museum and Art Gallery (with Highland Art Teachers) and Highland Printmakers, Inverness. Formerly a member of Highlands Open Studios he contributed to their mixed exhibitions. He has also undertaken a number of landscape and portrait commissions.