Philip Jones

The Artwork of Philip Jones

Born in London in 1933, Philip Jones was an English contemporary painter. An artist between the visionary and nostalgic works of the Neo-Romantics and the second generation of St. Ives Abstractionists, he created subtly-shaded paintings heightened with occasional bursts of color that resided on the periphery of abstraction.

Jones’s paintings were connected to the landscape surrounding his Norfolk home as well as the scenery he observed during his yearly travels. He spent most of his winters overseas at coastal destinations in Malta, India, Namibia, and the Republic of the Gambia. Jones, through a strong sense of connection with the natural world and its elements, became very adept at portraying a particular locale through the use of fluid lines and brushstrokes.

Philip Jones was educated at the historic Malvern College where he trained under post-impressionist painter and etcher Harry Fabian-Ware. In 1953, Jones enrolled at the Slade School of Fine Art where he became acquainted with fellow painters William Turnbull, Victor Willing and Michael Andrews. During his three years at the Slade School, Jones received private tutoring from mural and war artist Sir Walter Thomas Monnington and realist painter Sir William Coldstream, the Slade School’s acting principal. 

Jones had his first exhibition in 1954 at the Royal Society of British Artist Galleries. During his career, his paintings were shown at many of London’s most prestigious  galleries. In 1955, Jones had an exhibition at the Leicester Galleries, well-known for exhibiting the work and developing the careers of major artists. In 1964, there were two exhibitions: the London Group, one of the world’s oldest artist-led organizations, and the Artists‘ International Association in Soho. Jones’s work was shown at Mansard Gallery at Tottenham Court Road in 1967 and, in the next year, at the Contemporary Arts Society exhibition in the Whitechapel Gallery. 

Philip Jones left London in 1979 and relocated to Clermont Hall in Norfolk, a county known for its small chapels, plowed fields, outbuildings and green spaces. The works he painted in Norfolk are known for their palettes of predominately muted browns, soft blues and strong greens that conjure up the countryside’s lush foliage.

Following this period of withdrawal from London’s art scene, Jones resumed presenting his work for exhibitions. For the remaining fifteen years of his life, he entered his work into the annual Royal Academy exhibitions. In 2008, Jones had a solo exhibitions in March-April at London’s Oliver Contemporary and September-October at Madrid’s La Galería Espacio Minimo. Philip Jones passed away on the last day of December in 2008. 

The work of Philip Jones is housed in both private and public collections in the United Kingdom and Europe. The Estate of Philip Jones is represented by Jenna Burlingham Fine Art on George Street, Kingsclere, Hampshire, England. For information on work by Philip Jones, the gallery’s website is located at: https://www.jennaburlingham.com

Second Insert Image: Philip Jones, “Reflections, Calangute”, 2000, Oil on Paper, 58.4 x 76.2 cm, Jenna Burlingham Gallery, Kingsclere, England (Available)

Bottom Insert Image: Philip Jones, “Rocks at Mġarr”, 1999, Oil on Board, 37 x 49 cm, Jenna Burlingham Gallery, Kingsclere, England (Available)

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