John Lacoux (1931-2008)

We were very sad to learn that John Lacoux died in August 2008 following a very brief illness. Everyone who met him will remember the mixture of French enthusiasm and English courtesy which marked John. Only a month or two ago we were discussing what he would paint next and that sense of reaching out towards the next development characterised his work over the last few years. Many collectors have work from very different periods of his life and would affirm that with John, while you were certain of quality, you were never sure where his search would have taken him next. He will be very much missed.

I was born in 1930 in Croydon, Surrey, of a French father and an English mother. I have been lucky to enjoy a full-time professional painting career for 35 years.

I had no formal art training but studied 'The Greats' in London, Paris, Venice etc. in galleries and museums.

When I was 40, I had my first painting accepted at The Royal Academy Summer Exhibition. It sold at preview and The Trafford Gallery, Mount Street, London, offered to show my work. Two years later they gave me a one-man show and four paintings were bought by a rich American entrepreneur, Mr Hank Ginsberg. His wife ran an Interior Design Consultancy and wanted more of my works to place in the homes of other Americans living in London. They gave me a two year contract to paint 72 pictures; some to go into their own homes and galleries in the USA and some to clients. However, I shall never forget my first visit to their penthouse apartment in Curzon Lodge; I saw four of my paintings hanging with works by Renoir, Vlamink, Degas and Rodin! I can still hardly believe it; and I cannot imagine that they could still be in such august company!

I continued to show at the Trafford and later with the Madden Gallery, just off Grosvenor Square and at The Business Art Gallery, Burlington House, Piccadily. I also had  exhibitions in many other galleries throughout the country. Thus I was able to establish a painting career.

I am an oil colour painter of churches, cathedrals, castles, landscapes, near-abstracts and the sea. I particularly enjoy working in France and Venice as well as this country.

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