Compositions

“I’m always suspicious of painting an idea. Of course the purpose of a large number of paintings is to convey what you might call an idea: groups of people assembled like actors to mime a situation which will convey something ‘beyond’ the image itself. As I’ve said about portraits, I don’t think paint is the proper medium for certain things. The painting can be a thing in its own right, not just a screen through which an idea is more or less adequately seen.”

– John Jones

Conjuror at home, oil on canvas, 1983, 179 x 136cm

Conjuror, oil on canvas, private collection

When lovely woman stoops to folly (The Waste Land), oil on canvas, 1987, 120.5 x 84cm

Jazz band in a bar, oil on canvas, 121.5 x 91.5cm

Be kind to the Darling, oil on board, 183 x 122cm

George’s Beers (1950s), oil on board

By the statue, oil on canvas, 62 x 93cm

Dancing on the lawn on a summer evening, oil on canvas, 61 x 51cm

Camille Pissarro and his family in his orchard at Éragny in 1895 (inspired by a photograph), oil on board, 97 x 91cm

Nick and Rachel playing draughts, 1974, 117.5 x 70.5cm

Those who look out of windows, oil on board, 60 x 28cm

Double portrait, sketch, oil on aluminium, 61 x 46cm

Musicians in Jamaica, oil on aluminium, 47 x 63cm

Market stall, Normandy, oil on board, private collection

Ship, oil on canvas, 44 x 35cm

Houdini about to make an elephant disappear, oil on board, 51 x 61cm

The Ghost of Picasso's Father, oil on canvas, private collection