John Turney

Born in Scarborough, North Yorkshire in 1946, I have lived and worked in many countries since leaving Secondary School in 1961.    My travels throughout the world were as a soldier and officer in the British Army.    I hold an Honours Degree in International Studies and a Certificate in Education for teaching adults.

I first started to paint and draw in the early 1980’s when my daughter was studying for her GCE O levels, one of the subjects was art and I gained an interest in painting and drawing which has continued to this day.

I attended a local watercolour course in Thirsk and from then I have developed my drawing and painting skills.

In 1988 I successfully completed a Foundation for Art and Design course with the newly established Open College of Arts.

Painting and drawing took a back seat for a number of years whilst I worked full time for both North Yorkshire Police Authority and Scarborough Borough Council, although I did do the occasional drawing and painting for my family.

From 2000 my interest in painting and drawing was rekindled and I started to do more work as I gained employment with The Woodlands School in Scarborough and The Lifelong Learning Department of Scarborough 6th Form College, where I worked with my wife Jill, teaching art and craft to adults with special educational needs.

Since leaving paid employment and to improve my art skills, I have attended and successfully passed various art courses at The Scarborough Campus of Hull University.    The courses were Portrait Painting and Painting Still Life in Acrylics, Painting in Oils and Art and Design.    To maintain my drawing skills I take part in a weekly life drawing group and have done so for the past three years.

In addition to the above I have also led many craft workshops over the past 12 years, specialising in items based on a Native American theme. Dunbar, East Lothian.