Surrounding inspiration

Being inspired by the natural world, John McKinstry shares a passion through tranquil works of art.

John McKinstry has spent the majority of his career working within the realms of horticulture, which took him to diverse corners of the country and inevitably inspired his paintings over the coming years. From the gentle rural fields of his home counties of the Sussex downs and Wealds, to quaint Cornish harbours and dramatic south-west moorlands, all are landscapes which have helped shape and inspire his work to date, and ultimately provide him with a chance to do something he now cannot be without. Art. 

Although John has not received formal artistic training, he spent many years dabbling in watercolour, a medium he never felt completely at home with. It wasn’t until he switched from watercolour to acrylic that he found the spark that was missing from his work. A connection was formed. It is a medium that John finds forgiving, textural and ideally suited to his style, allowing him the freedom to create his soft, gentle skies and vibrant textured foregrounds with ease. 

Over the years, John’s paintings have evolved in style but the inspirations never change; the constant draw from nature is evident. His paintings evoke a feeling of calm and quiet reflection, a feeling that is mirrored when he paints, and one that is often commented on. 

John first started exhibiting locally in Cornwall before the opportunity arose for his work to be displayed to a larger audience at a gallery in Glasgow. It was during this time that his art was spotted by one of the UK’s leading art publishers and distributors. This turn of luck gave John the nudge that he needed to realise his dream of becoming a full-time artist, with the aim of supplying high-end galleries across the UK and internationally, and now, he has a large number of collectors in both realms. 

In September of 2022, John made the leap and became an independent artist, allowing him a more flexible lifestyle and a more hands-on approach with the collectors of his art. His work is now available directly from his website, as well as a few hand-picked galleries, all of which you can discover on his website.

JOHN MCKINSTRY ART
johnmckinstryart@gmail.com

www.johnmckinstryart.com