John Corcoran

John developed an interest in Art and painting from a young age.  His father, a professional sign writer and portrait painter, taught John drawing and brush techniques and encouraged him to study his collection of rare art books.

At the age of 14 John attended the Manchester Secondary Technical School of Art, where he studied for two years.  On leaving School, John took various manual jobs to finance his art education, including working in mills and down the mines in Burnley.  In the summer months John travelled to the West Country to paint the quays of the many fishing villages there. 

Whilst painting for tourists in Cornwall, John met two professional artists who helped him progress his painting technique.  He soon returned to the beautiful countryside of Lancashire and Yorkshire which remain his prime inspiration.

John’s landscapes capture brilliantly the light, colour and atmosphere of the countryside together with the architectural charm of the rustic buildings and bridges set within  them.  His paintings also feature the local inhabitants and animal studies.

Over the decades many charities have benefited from John’s work – he has donated paintings to raffles and held exhibitions and demonstrations for charity.  He has also given art lessons to prisoners in Manchester’s Strangeways Jail at Christmas time.

John’s work has been widely reproduced as greetings cards and fine art prints by Royale, the celebrated London publisher.  His paintings are held in private collections both in Britain and abroad.