About
The John England Archive
This online archive presents the paintings, drawings, carvings and design work of British artist and former head of framing at the National Gallery, London, John Robert England (1941–2025).
Here are landscapes, faces and figures, trees and flowers, as well as graphic and furniture design work*. As well as being art works in their own right, all form the creative background to one of Britain’s foremost craftsmen and frame conservators.
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*A note on dates and media
This archive comprises pieces from two sketchbooks inscribed with England’s St.Quintin’s Avenue address, dating to approximately 1956-1959 (St.Quintin’s book 1) and 1959-1961 (St.Quintin’s book 2), together with a book dating from 1964 to 1970 (Book 3), and loose pieces contained in a number of portfolios covering work from 1958 onwards (Folios).
England favoured pencil on paper, but was also successful using scraper-board (mostly for card designs) and pen and ink on card. Exceptionally, he used pastel and colour pencil. Most paintings are oil on canvas or oil on board, with design work executed in gouache.
Clearly, it was England’s genius that he was able, half-way through his career, to adopt the craft of wood-carving and to do so with accomplishment. Unfortunately, photographs are not available for most of England’s frames and not all remain on the walls of the National Gallery (replaced when period frames have been found at a later date). Happily, however, the results of his conservation work, on the di Cione and Wilton Diptych in particular, is still there for all to see.
John Robert England: A Life in Art and Design 