As an 8-year-old boy, John Newby spent hours copying comic book characters. After taking art classes in high school he was accepted to the Ontario college of Art where he studied commercial art. After graduation, art became merely a hobby as he worked with the police for ten years, and then for another decade with the fire department. As a firefighter, Newby devoted more and more time to painting and gradually the hobby turned to a profession as he sold more paintings and won international success as an artist.
Compared favourably to Norman Rockwell, this talented Canadian has been praised for his ability to create consistently, uncannily, a feeling of familiarity in the beholder - as though these warm and cozy images are a glimpse at our very own lives. When feelings of our own childhood experiences or thoughts of our beloved children are instantly, magically delivered, more than a mere glance is invited.
It is not surprising to think that parents think they see their own children in John Newby's paintings. He adds a small amount of detail on each child's face so that a mother or father's imagination can be easily stirred. John Newby is credited as the first Canadian artist to perfect this technique.
John continues to work from his home in Old Port Dalhousie, drawing his inspiration from his wife Lorraine, his children and his own childhood memories.
