Talking with Johnathan Oliff (venue -
One of the newcomers to the 2015 Rochford Art Trail
Rochford Life: Johnathan, on your card you describe your work in a variety of ways.
Graham: Yes but it’s mainly linocut printing and illustration, I would say.
RL: How long have you been doing this?
Johnathan: Well, as a freelance or independent artist, only about a year but I studied Graphic Design at University and then worked as a graphic designer locally for about ten years.
RL: What’s the outlet for your work?
Johnathan: Well I sell my work online and I show it at exhibitions. This will be the first time on the Rochford Art Trail but I did take part in the Rayleigh Trail earlier this year; that was my first art trail. Last year I was in a couple of group shows in Southend. Earlier this year I had an exhibition at Rayleigh Windmill, my first solo exhibition really.
RL: What inspires you to do what you do?
Johnathan: Well things like the Old House in South Street and the hospital chimney, I did specifically for the Art Trail. I’ve used a history book to pick out places of interest in Rochford and I’ve still got one illustration to finish before the Trail. With the exhibition in the Windmill I did a focus on Rayleigh, lots of individual buildings and then collaged them together – some of the pubs, the windmill, Holy Trinity Church and the Dutch Cottage
RL: Is there any limitation to the sort of work you could cover?
Johnathan: Well, as we’ve been saying, I do local stuff but I also do stuff inspired by pop culture, but anything that I really like myself, which may include quotes or clips from authors, things like that.
RL: And you are showing in the Great Wooferoo?
Johnathan: That’s right. Aiden was there last year and I’ve seen his work before which is fairly similar to my style. I’ll be showing mainly linocut prints but also with this illustration I’m working on as well, mostly about Rochford but also with some of the material I displayed in the Windmill. I’ll be setting up Thursday morning so I’ll still be in the town for the launch event later in the morning.
RL: Right. Well may we wish you well and we’ll look forward to seeing your work in the window of the Great Wooferoo in a few days’ time. All the best.
Also see his work at the Pre-
Introducing some of the newcomers to the Rochford Art Trail
