JOHN PICKUP 

John Pickup is really venturesome, and by straying into much more demanding areas and betraying a knowledge of fine art, he moves into territory occupied by artists such as Boyd, Nolan and Tucker" Neville Weston - Art Critic "The Adelaide Advertiser"

Born at Manly, N.S.W, John entered a career in broadcasting and became the ABC's Regional Manager in Broken Hill in 1962. His lifetime interest in art developed further as he exhibited in the local Willyama Art Society Exhibitions. In 1972 John joined the fellow artists Eric Minchin, Jack Absalom, Pro Hart and Hugh Schulz to exhibit in Sydney. The outstanding success of the exhibition led to the formation of The Brushmen of the Bush, beginning an artistic journey leading to eventual National, then International acclaim.

As a member of the "Brushmen of the Bush", John has exhibited in every mainland Capital and many Regional Centres throughout Australia.

Overseas exhibition venues have included London (twice), New York, Los Angeles and Rome, with Exhibition Openings by Prince Charles, The Duchess of Kent, Prime Minister Bob Hawke, two Governors General and State Governors in New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia and Western Australia.

A feature of all Brushmen of the Bush Exhibitions was the strong focus on raising funds for Charities and over one million dollars in today's values was raised since their formation in 1972.

John has also had a number of solo Exhibitions and his works may be found in many Civic and private collections, including those of Prince Charles; Lord McLean; Qantas - (where his works appeared on the "Australian Artists" In Flight Menu Series); N.S.W. House, London; Broken Hill Regional Art Gallery; University of N.S.W.; Editor of "American Artist" David Preiss; Queen's Silversmith Stuart Devlin and many other significant collections.

In recent years John has included both his beloved Outback and the semi-tropical area of Mackay in his paintings and has been actively involved in facilitating patient art activity at the Rehabilitation and Acute Care Wards at the Mackay Base Hospital and Bipolar group.

As an Art Judge and Guest Speaker, he has travelled to many Centres in Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria, judging and providing encouragement to both adult and child artists.

Apart from a career spanning more than fifty years in broadcasting, John has had a long association with theatre, including writing and producing the very successful musical "The Roaring Days!" - chronicling the first five years of the development of Broken Hill. Other interests have included sculpture, photography, gliding and piloting his hot air balloon "Don Quixote"