John’sartwill alwaysbein Derbyshire
A life change is forcing renowned Derby artist John Straw to sell hundreds of his works of art - including Derbyshire landscapes – as he bids farewell to the city
ONE of Derby’s most renowned professional artists is selling off a unique gold-dust archive of his original work as he prepares to wave goodbye to the city of his birth.
John Straw, a man who’s painted around 3,000 original pictures in a career spanning more than 50 years, is leaving Derby at the age of 79, accompanied by his wife of 55 years, Jill, to be closer to family in Warwickshire.
And that means bidding a fond farewell to their Mickleover home of 53 years, complete with art studio, as well as hundreds of paintings, sketches and prints accumulated over a lifetime.
They are expected to make thousands of pounds at Hansons Auctioneers in June.
John, who has suffered with Parkinson’s disease for the past 10 years, is downsizing to be near his daughter and grandson. There are so many paintings and sketches, he simply can’t take them all.
His work is displayed not just in Derbyshire but all over the world as well as on calendars and magazine covers – and people will soon have an opportunity to invest in his talent.
He is auctioning more than 50 original framed paintings – many featuring his home county. Derbyshire-inspired artworks include View Towards Wirksworth, Overfields, Brailsford, Chestnut Trees, Beresford Dale, and Lane to Alstonefield.
He is also parting with a few unframed original paintings, including Woodland Walk, Markeaton; framed and unmounted prints; 12 international calendars featuring his art, a Crown Devon plate bearing a painting of Quarndon and sketch books containing pencil portraits of around 200 well-known politicians and celebrities – except Donald Trump. He gave his Trump sketch
to an American fan of the former president.
The sketches are like a who’s who of politics and popular culture and include everyone from Elvis and Angela Merkel to James Dean and Amy Winehouse. Other fun offerings are six hand-painted dinner party menus and cartoonstyle pictures of John’s Mercedes transporting chickens the couple looked after for a friend.
John, who was born in Derby in 1943, discovered his love of art in childhood. In 1968 he had his first experience of exhibiting his work at Studio 5 in Chellaston. His first solo exhibition in 1975 was in Derby’s Guildhall foyer, a successful venue for several years.
Demand for his work increased and in 1978 he became a full-time professional artist, bidding farewell to accountancy. He exhibited at galleries throughout the country as well as in Derbyshire.
His paintings were inspired by the natural world, especially birds, animals and Derbyshire landscapes. Initially he made his name as a bird artist but his depiction of the countryside made landscapes his foremost subject. He loved to paint lesser-known countryside between Derby and Ashbourne in all seasons.
In 1980, after a sudden exhibition cancellation, he held his first ever art show at his Mickleover home studio. It was such a huge success the events continued annually until 2006.
John enjoyed talking to his clients as much as selling his paintings. His commission book was always full afterwards.
In addition, he sold his work at craft fairs across the country including events held at Derbyshire’s Buxton Pavilion, Kedleston, Calke, Elvaston and Derby Assembly Rooms.
His burgeoning career led to the production of limited-edition prints, commissions from International Calendars & Gifts to provide
calendar art and requests to feature his art on magazine covers. A snowy sunset picture of Derbyshire’s Wingfield Manor made the cover of Derbyshire Life in 1983 and his work featured on eight Country Images magazine covers.
He retired in 2006 but continued to paint for pleasure and to undertake occasional commissions. However, in 2012 he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease and for a time gave up painting because of the severity of his tremor.
This gradually improved with medication and a fellow Parkinson’s patient persuaded him to try painting again.
To his delight he found he had far better control with a brush than with a pen and so began another phase in his career.
In 2015 and 2016 he submitted work to the Parkinson’s Disease UK Mervyn Peake Awards and had work exhibited at London’s Kings College and the OXO gallery on the South Bank. His 2016 painting of three sparrows prompted the charity to ask him if he would paint a Christmas robin for their Christmas card catalogue.
This proved so popular he’s designed a Christmas robin card for Parkinson’s every year since. The 2022 card will be available from July and it will also be produced as a jigsaw.
Age and health issues have crept up on this wonderful Derby couple, prompting the difficult decision to move closer to their family. John would like to say a huge thank-you to everyone who has enjoyed his art and made Derbyshire life so special for them both. He hopes people will enjoy having the opportunity to bid on work he has treasured for years.
John Straw’s art will be offered in the June 16-21 Antiques and Collectors Auction at Hansons Auctioneers, Heage Lane, Etwall, Derbyshire. Catalogue due live June 10 at www.hansonslive.co.uk. To find out more, email service@ hansonsauctioneers.co.uk.