About

John was born in Norwich, Norfolk, in 1949. At the age of 11, when his father became employed as a charge engineer at South Denes Power Station in Great Yarmouth, he moved with his parents and sister, Pamela, to Gorleston-on-Sea.

After attending the local Grammar School, John completed a one-year Foundation Course at Great Yarmouth College of Art. He then went on to study at Leicester College of Art and Design, where, in 1970, he gained a DipAD in Graphic Design Illustration.

Following some years travelling in Greece and the Middle East, John returned to Great Yarmouth, where he then passionately dedicated himself to art until his death in 2015. Although he had to cope with recurring mental ill health during much of his adult life, he found great comfort in his Christian faith, his friends and, crucially, his art.

John’s artistic output incorporated a wide variety of media and applications, including oil and acrylic paintings, watercolours, pencil drawings, murals and linocut. His subject matter included everything from colourful landscapes, portaits and still life to commercial work, rural and industrial settings

In 1998 John was commissioned by St Nicholas Church in Great Yarmouth to paint the fourteen Stations of the Cross. Then, in 2008, a book (‘In Our Town’) depicting these images, and with a commentary, was published by the John Dashwood Trust. This book can be viewed by selecting In Our Town here, or in the menu at the top.

After John’s death, a commemorative book (‘John Dashwood – Artist’) was complied, containing examples of his work. Although the book is no longer in print, it is reproduced in full on this website. To view it, select The Book here, or in the menu at the top.

You can also view a Gallery of his work separated into genres.