Farnham lost one of its artist legends in 2022. Since then, John’s family has discovered more than fifty paintings and prints, representing Farnham and the local area. We are delighted to present these artworks from John’s own collection for his final exhibition at the New Ashgate Gallery. Exceptionally, they are available to purchase during the exhibition.

Born in London in 1934, John Bryce graduated in mechanical engineering at King’s College London. He worked as a research scientist at the Royal Aerospace Establishment, Farnborough, working on projects such as Concorde. He, however, maintained a keen interest in painting and wood engraving and became an exhibiting member of both the Farnham and Guildford Art Societies in the early 1970s. After he retired, John pursued an active artistic career as a painter and printmaker. John painted in watercolour, oils and mixed media, creating original print images through the challenging medium of wood engraving, often using his paintings as an inspiration for the engraved image.

In John’s work, wood engraving is a powerful medium for depicting the effects of light because it expresses the dramatic contrast between intense black and pure white. John was influenced by the effects of light as it occurs in the sky, on buildings and on water. Furthermore, his mark making on the block expressed the drama and mood of an experienced event.

John said: In my wood engraving work I first make careful sketches, then I try to portray the event by cutting bold and varied marks with a variety of different shaped tools so as to create an exciting and dramatic image.

John was elected a member of the Society of Wood Engravers (SWE) in 1990 and a senior fellow of the Royal Society of Painter-Printmakers (RE) in 2010. Furthermore, he exhibited with the Royal Watercolour Society, the Royal Society of Painters in Water Colours and the Royal Society of Marine Artists. His background in aviation stimulated a keen interest in painting aircraft with the Guild of Aviation Artists (GAvA).