Show marks centenary of Brighton artist John Eyles

It will be open on Friday, September 1, 12-5.30pm; Saturday, September 2, 9.30am-5pm; and Sunday, September 3, 1-5.30pm.

Jane Wilde, John’s daughter, said: “We are delighted to provide the opportunity for people to view the work of Brightonian John Eyles, artist, engineer and writer – a true polymath. The artwork we are exhibiting is on loan from family members and represents a broad range of John’s artistic skills. Although the pictures won't be on sale, there will be prints available to purchase.”

John studied at the Slade School of Art in the 1940s and won the Royal Academy of Arts award for most promising new artist. He was part of the Notting Hill bohemian set in the 1950s and 60s where he developed his unique artistic style.

“John’s artwork is eclectic and includes abstract, conceptual, expressionism and impressionism, and he also had a leaning towards Chinese art forms and technical drawing styles. He worked using various mediums including acrylic, oil, watercolour, charcoal and pen and ink.

“John’s choice of friends and acquaintances was as varied as his work and included his drinking partner Dylan Thomas; Cliff Richard of whom he made several sketches; Peter Cook; Dudley Sutton; the art historian Francis Haskell (John's first son was named after him); George Melly for whom John created a Punch & Judy theatre; Alan Bennett who apparently included John as a character in one of his plays; 'the two Roberts' Robert Colquhoun and Robert MacBryde who for a time rented a room in his house; poets/writers Mark Hyatt and Cressida Lindsay who shared a house with John in Notting Hill; and the poets George Barker and Elizabeth Smart (Elizabeth helped to deliver John’s son Danny).

“Previous to becoming an artist, John studied engineering and in the 1970s he was a member of the Centre for Alternative Technology (CAT) in Wales, where he created Creton windmills. He was later sponsored by a Quaker couple to create a wind-pump to raise water from a well in the Santal tribal village in Bihar province, in the North of India. John wrote a book about his experience called Ropes and Angels – A Windmill in India (unpublished).

“John became a Quaker during the late 1980s, which resonated with his 12-step recovery programme and with his spiritual journey. In the 1990s he was a resident friend at the Meeting House in Brighton and then in Devizes. John has five children, ten grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren and counting.”

The venue has wheelchair access. Tea and coffee available at £1 per cup. Cash only. The prints on sale will depict Brighton from the 1950s up to the 1990s.