About me

Me, on the telly box! A screen shot from my (brief) appearance on 2017’s Sky Arts Landscape Artist of the Year in Knaresborough

Here’s one of my very brief on screen bits…so happy the judges remarked on the drawing aspect.

John Harrison:  Purveyor of line drawings with watercolour 

Yorkshire born and bred: a trained graphic designer with a strong illustrative style borne from my voracious childhood reading: Rupert The Bear; Swallows and Amazons; Just William, and countless comics from both sides of the Atlantic. They all featured drawings which led directly to my current style of strong line drawings in ink, with watercolour washes applied in varying degrees to focus the viewer’s eye.

I draw inspiration (pun intended!) from many sources – Yorkshire’s glorious Dales and Coast, the stunning Lake District, city, village and townscapes – and I  always look for dynamic viewpoints with interesting perspective and strong light and shadows rather than the usual picture postcard view.

 My favoured subject matter features built structures in the wider landscape – I’m fascinated by the contrast between the man-made and the natural. Largely self-taught, I don’t consider myself a painter, yet still use the unpredictable yet exciting medium of watercolour to highlight my drawings.

I’m an active Urban Sketcher, and also run many workshops and classes, details of which are posted on the relevant page on this site.

My work is in many private collections both in the UK and internationally, and I love to do commissions, whether a house portrait, memento of a special holiday  or a family event…just get in touch.  

Thanks for dropping by, and please have a look around my site..

24 thoughts on “About me

  1. Hi John,
    my mother would love one of your framed paintings for a Christmas gift. Please could you tell me where I can see what you have available and the prices. It will be a very difficult decision – we love everything we’ve seen!

  2. Hello John ,just confirming that you are still coming to our club on the 19th Nov. Regards Roger . The Phoenix club hull.

  3. john your5 demo at bingley art soc last week was brilliant;entertaining and informative,thanks again jean lancaster

    1. Hello Lesley, thanks for looking -the short answer to your question is ‘no’I’ve never used oil, although I her often thought I would love to have a go someday
      John

  4. Hello John.
    A friend of mine turns 50 next week and I’ve been looking for a special card to send him with a picture of St Ives – his favourite place. I came across your work through a google search and it stands out to me the most – Do you have any cards? Or small prints of St Ives that I could use to create a card/keepsake?
    Many thanks
    Laura

    1. Hi Laura,
      thanks for writing: I don’t have many images of St Ives, but we did holiday there last summer so |I’ll have a look through my sketchbooks and see if there’s anything there…I’ll come back to you later on today
      best wishes
      John

    1. Hi Dave
      Thanks for the note: I have my repro sketchbooks listed on my Etsy shop…there’s a link to the right at the top of my website home page.
      I have the new one from September,& just one copy of last year’s left.
      Cheers
      John

  5. Dear Star what a fab artist you are would love to come to a workshop but live in
    Cheshire missed you at Heswall artists have you ever extended workshop to several says or best of all a holiday in your area please kindest Irene Turner (very keen)

    1. Irene, thank you so much for the very kind words…as it happens, I’m returning to Heswall Artists on the 2 November, and also to Chester for a full day demo/workshop on the 16 November…if you like, let me know and I can email you details of the Chester day, as I’m sure they welcome visitors?
      best wishes and thank you again
      John

  6. I have written a long comment and i thgink it has disappeared….I am
    very tired now, so I can just say that I am very pleased I found your page with your lovely watercolours. I am 96 and still sketching….
    It is a gift from God and I feel very happy that I can still draw. I have now started a book that I will feel with watercolour sketches. I am going now to find your page…Hope you get this comment where I tell you How happy I am to have found you !!! Rita Moss

  7. Hello Mr. Harrison,
    Today I received your beautiful 2022 calendar. To say I was chuffed is an understatement. Viewing your art on the Internet does not do it justice. I was entranced with your paintings…the lights and darks, the wonderful use of white space, the ink lines against the watercolor paint. Sublime. Thank you for also including a very thoughtful gift of a one of your beautiful greeting cards, and a gorgeous Greetings from Yorkshire postcard with a hand written note. I wish that I had known earlier about your etchr class…I hope that you will be doing more online workshops? I have signed up for your newsletter so hopefully I will be able to keep up with your teaching schedule.
    Thank you once again,
    Teresa
    (in North Carolina USA, but formerly of Nottingham, England 🙂

  8. Hi John
    Took part in your course yesterday, well worth the drive from Hampshire.
    Did the building outlines again on my Langdale sketch and it does help bring the buildings forward from the hills behind.
    Quick question, what’s your preference for sketch books??

    Thanks

    David

  9. Hi there John. I have a painting of a small bridge in some trees in the snow. It’s signed by John D Harrison + and I am trying to determine if it’s one of yours. I would be happy to send you a picture of it.
    Thank you for your reply.
    Sincerely,
    Amy

  10. Hi John, when and where can I buy your Christmas cards? Best wishes from a Yorkshire friend in Germany, Bettina

    1. Hello Bettina, I haven’t produced any dedicated, specific Christmas cards this year I’m afraid…I do have a range of general cards available in my Etsy shop though, which may serve the purpose?
      best wishes
      John

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