John Canham was born in London in 1949 and from a very young age just loved to draw. Although his natural talent was quite obvious to teachers around him it was never encouraged and his parent’s lives were consumed with dealing with serious illness and like many at that time, struggling to survive economically.
 

Although selected to attend a local grammar school, once there, he was never given the opportunity to study or practice art. His talent ended up hidden under life in general.
 

In his first job, at age 15, he was lucky to be in walking distance of the Tate Gallery in London and spent many lunchtimes spellbound by the genius of Turner and others.
 

In 1974 with his wife Frances and two young daughters they emigrated to Melbourne. Another daughter was born in 1979. He worked for 35 years in the construction industry and had the occasional dabble with art producing cartoons of family and friends for birthdays. However, some years ago, on a trip back to the UK, he was inspired to start painting by his brother Ray’s remarkable midlife journey to become a professional artist in Norfolk England, after a serious work accident,
 

With no formal training in art, John’s method is always an adventure. Whilst his subject matter and medium is varied, the genre of abstract art is one that gives him so much pleasure and freedom. Constantly drawn to a hard edged style with a usually bright colour palette, the point of completion of an artwork is sometimes difficult to achieve. When it does appear complete, it is usually at a point where it just simply looks right, lifts his spirit and hopefully that of the viewer.
 

Following retirement from the building industry in 2007, John and Frances moved from Melbourne to Ballarat. John is now a life member of the Ballarat Society of Artists and currently it’s President. Although by no means a regular entrant to art exhibitions, John has won a number of art awards. He is not a prolific painter, and many of his works are given to family and friends.
 

In his role with the Art Society, when the opportunity arises, he is keen to encourage and promote art in the community especially with its children.  It is a far cry from his own experience as a child.

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