John Bainbridge Copnall, Mountainside, Mixed Media on Wood, 1965

John bainbridge copnall.
Sussex 1928 - london 2007.
He lived in benalmadena, málaga for a period of 14 years, until 1968, which he left to england.
Original painting on board, mixed technique with total measurements of 100 x 75 cm.
Signed, dated and titled on the reverse: john copnall 1965, mountainside.
British abstract expressionism.
Enough, awards and international exhibitions.
John brainbrigde copnall (slinfold, sussex, 1928 - london, 2007).
“Montainside”, 1965
mixed technique on board.
Signed, dated and titled on the back.
Measurements: 100 x 74 cm.
John copnall was born in slinfold, the son of the eminent sculptor edward bainbridge copnall (1903-1970), while his mother muriel was a keen amateur artist and his uncles, frank and teresa copnall, were professional artists of some repute. Copnall showed an early interest in drawing and, at the age of eighteen, began studying at the architectural association in london. Although he abandoned that career. Initially, copnall began his painting studies under the tutelage of his father at the sir john cass school of art in the city of london and from 1949 under the direction of the artist sir henry rushbury at the school of the royal academy. His first works were figurative aesthetics, achieving the turner gold medal for landscape painting. In 1954, copnall and his friend bert flugelman visited spain for what he intended to be a short visit, but he fell in love with the iberian landscape and stayed for fourteen years. At first he lived in ibiza and later moved to the mountains of malaga, where he earned his living as a painter, sometimes using the name juan de retamá. The intense light of spain and the visceral nature of its people fundamentally changed his art, as he experimented with intense earth colors while moving increasingly toward abstraction. Throughout his career, copnall was interested in the use of intense colors and spanish light, which undoubtedly enhanced his artistic senses. As the 1960s progressed, copnall's painting became fashionable and he began selling his paintings to private collectors, including melvyn douglas. He had several solo exhibitions in spain and catalonia, as well as shows in germany, where he was also popular. In 1968, copnall returned to england and the following year had a solo exhibition at the bear lane gallery in oxford. His work was clearly influenced by that of american abstract expressionists such as barnett newman, morris louis and mark rothko with copnall using acrylic paint on increasingly larger canvases. In 1970 he won the ea abbey scholarship and further recognition followed with art council awards in 1973 and a british council award in 1979.