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John Shanks
Born 1950
Lives and works in Hastings, UK
www.uneasypieces.co.uk

John Shanks has produced a wide range of artwork since 1969 with early exhibits at Scottish Young Contemporaries,
an exhibition at the Close Theatre, Glasgow, and a short fi lm shown at Edinburgh University Film Club. Shanks
became active in community development and latterly management and alongside this, continued to take and
make photographs in a traditional darkroom setting.
Throughout his working life, Shanks has used cameras and photography as a means of expression and doesn't
distinguish between photographer and artist in his work. From 2005 Shanks has devoted his time to revisiting
and ultimately rejecting much, though not all, of his early work, concentrating on new images and projects
for exhibition. On a practical level using a camera means it travels with him and is a convenient image-taker/
recorder in itself and as a medium to note and develop ideas from. The fl exibility and adaptability of image
processing and printing styles and techniques suit his artistic ambitions.
Shanks is inspired by what he sees, what he thinks and what he reads - these are usually the starting points for new
work. He is also inspired by other people’s work and passion.
Meadow With Bars is an example of work from a series of adapted macro landscapes extrapolated from original
camera based images. This particular piece develops the different tonal values and colours creating an optical
illusion from reality and was recently shown at The Royal Academy Summer Show 2014 the entire edition of 10
has now sold.
JOHN SHANKS has exhibited in a number of group exhibitions including; Stains & Traces, Hastings Arts Forum, Hastings, UK (2014),
Artsrata, Saatchi Gallery, London, UK (2013), PURE Art Group at Powdermills, Battle, UK (2013) and Truth and Lies, Hastings Arts Forum,
Hastings, UK (2013), “Postcards” Exhibition at Stables Theatre Gallery, UK (2014), RA Summer Show, UK (2014), “Elements” at Hastings
Arts Forum, UK (2014).

Above: Intersection on White, 2014, Digital Photo Inkjet Print on Photo Rag.
h: 80cm w: 56cm d: 5cm, Artist’s Collection.
Right: Wave, 2014, Digital Photo Inkjet Print on Photo Rag.
h: 100cm w: 55cm d: 5cm, Artist’s Collection.
Left: Meadow With Bars, 2013, Digital Photo Inkjet Print on Photo Rag.
h: 80cm w: 120cm d: 5cm, Private Collection.

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