biography

Born in Huddersfield, England in 1936, John Duncan Firth had a natural ability to draw and paint from an early age. Although self-taught, he was selected to exhibit work in the Huddersfield Public Gallery Youth Exhibition at the age of sixteen.

In 1955 John completed a Diploma in Art at the London Art College and studied still life and life drawing at the Belfast College of Technology in 1958-1959. Later in Australia, John learnt tonal painting for a twelve month period with Max Casey.

In 1964 John and his wife Barbara emigrated to Australia. Continuing his studies in art he started painting seriously in 1968, joining the Mitcham Arts Society, where he was elected President for two years. He resigned as a Tool Design Engineer in 1978 and established himself as a professional teacher and artist. John has since held many successful solo exhibitions.

In the early 1980’s John met and became friends with some of the mountain cattlemen of Victoria. John has since learnt to ride a horse, been to numerous annual musters and on packhorse trips. Consequently, he is well known for his paintings depicting droving and other aspects of the mountain cattlemen’s lifestyle, which led to the release of his publication, “High Plains Muster” in 1987.

John also paints floral, still life and portraits. Portraits have included Charles Francis QC, Dorothy Baker, Gus Mercurio, Max Casey, Bill, Frank, Greg and Catherine Montague, Tom Roberts (of Kew Gallery). John was commissioned by Vision Australia to paint the portraits of a number of past presidents: Tom Marks, Sir Bruce Small, David Robertson and W.H Paterson. Although working mostly with oils, he works well in all mediums, including pastel and watercolour.

John is the winner of 292 art awards, 105 being major awards. Two important awards being the Reece Australia prize in 1993 and Sunny Crust Bakery award in the Herald-Sun Camberwell Rotary Show in 1998.

He is represented in the Shepparton Regional Art Gallery, Bright Regional Collection, the Shire Councils of Bulla, Cardinia, Victor Harbour, Sherbrooke, Upper Yarra and Yarra Valley, Kingston Centre Victoria, Caltex Australia, National and Commonwealth Banks, RMIT, The Melba Centre, Reece Australia and Mono Pumps Australia. John is also represented in many private collections within Australia and also throughout the world, including the Lord Vesty Collection in England.