Dawn Anderson meets a fine art photographer whose unique style has captured the atmosphere of some of Derbyshire’s oldest buildings.
I MET up with John Parker at a local café to tell me all about his work. Born and bred in Bolsover, he studied Fine Art in Hull, graduating with a first-class degree in 1989, but then entered the corporate world and his love of art was buried for many years.
Now in his fifties, he is entering his own renaissance period; since 2018 he has had the opportunity to focus on his love of art and, in particular, photography.
He specialises in capturing locations such as Bolsover Castle and Renishaw Hall, using a special infrared technique to create pictures that are both ‘ethereal and atmospheric’. His stunning images have been published in national magazines such as Black and White Photography Magazine and many others.
I ask him what it was that led to his renewed enthusiasm for art?
“I had a period of burnout from work and took some time out. As part of recharging, I started to go walking and actually had the time to notice the landscapes. Photographing them just seemed the natural thing to do. I’d always loved history, and I started to visit and take pictures of buildings that I loved. The spark came from there…”
This combined passion for history and art have led to the production of many unique images of places in Derbyshire, but it was the pictures of Renishaw Hall that led to a fantastic opportunity and an ongoing association. The images of the hall came to the attention of Renishaw’s manager on social media and (with John’s permission) were used on their own social media. The same manager had also noticed a similarity to the work of another artist allied to the hall, John Piper.
John Piper (1903-1992) was an official war artist who had created paintings and illustrations of the hall in the 1940s. Seventy of his pictures are still displayed there.
“I didn’t even realise that the collection was there,” John said, “but when I saw it, I could see that it had a similar vibe to my own work.”
John was asked to take part in a project celebrating the work of John Piper and spent six months photographing the hall. The output was the exhibition John Parker, Following in the Footsteps of John Piper. It was this alliance that led John to a number of projects, and other opportunities, to explore his passion.
He took redundancy from his job a couple of years ago, which has meant that he has the time to devote to this alongside his carer responsibilities.
The work with Renishaw also gave John the confidence to offer his work for sale and he has several places where you can purchase prints, including the visitor centre at Renishaw.
John is also proud to be a member of Peak District Artisans (www.peakdistrictartisans.co.uk) a prestigious group of artists and designers based in and around Derbyshire who are recognised for their excellence in their chosen field. Through this group, he has exhibited at places including Haddon Hall and the Buxton Dome.
It is when we start talking about John’s plans for 2025 that he tells me about the band that he is in, Gogglehead (a prog rock band that is motivated by political and environmental issues). It seems that his interests and talents lie in more than one direction, but more on that another time!
If you want to see examples of John’s work, the exhibition at Renishaw Hall (www.renishaw-hall.co.uk) is still running and there are various ways that you can purchase his art. There are plans for more exhibitions in 2025.
As I leave the café with a special Bolsover Castle picture that he has kindly given me, and the latest CD from his band, I am struck by the thought that it is never too late to follow your passions and that by being open to opportunities, they come and find you.
Editor’s note: You can check out John’s work at Instagram: johiv1 Facebook: John Parker Fine Art Photography – and you can email him at jparkerphotographs@gmail.com
Calling all Chesterfield artists: let’s put the town on the map!
FOR almost 20 years Derbyshire Open Arts has held its annual event, celebrating the wealth of creative talent in Derbyshire. It always takes place over the second bank holiday weekend in May (Saturday 24 to Monday 26 May).
Last year there were brilliant events all over Derbyshire, including Holymoorside and Dronfield, but sadly nothing in Chesterfield. It is time to change that and showcase the rich talent that Chesterfield is home to, writes Dawn Anderson.
If you are an artist and are interested in opening your studio in Chesterfield, or live just outside of the town but are interested in exhibiting in Chesterfield, please get in touch. This year I have volunteered to introduce artists and venues to each other in Chesterfield (a similar initiative is happening for other areas in Derbyshire).
If you are previously unaware of Derbyshire Open Arts, the concept is that local artists and makers show their work to the public, attracting art enthusiasts, collectors, and visitors from both local communities and further afield, but perhaps more importantly, stimulating the interest in the art of the local community. Many artists open their studios and give demonstrations of their work. Other artists group together to exhibit their work at local venues, often raising money for charity by providing coffee and cake.
For that one weekend in May you can tour Derbyshire, often plotting your own route to see all kinds of fabulous art. There are no entry fees for visitors and anyone can participate. It also provides a boost to the local economy because visitors may dine, shop and stay locally.
Derbyshire Open Arts (DOA) is a voluntary organisation with a committee that promotes this mammoth event each year. For a small fee per artist, DOA will extensively market artists and their events in printed media (the brochure), online social media and local and national media, including TV where possible. They even provide banners and balloons for venues and a promotional pack for the artists. Feedback from those who have taken part (and those who have attended) has always been really positive.
Following the event last year, a few local Chesterfield venues got in touch to offer their spaces so it would be great to find artists that would want to exhibit or local artists willing to open their studios.
I am not an artist, although I am a creative (film and words are my bag!), I think that this could be the year that Chesterfield’s artist community could be represented as the vibrant community that it is.
Editor’s note: If you are interested in finding out more about the event, whether you are an artist, or have a venue, then please email info@derbyshireopenarts.co.uk.