John Jackson

What makes the art of Dr John H. Jackson unique is that he paints the rock-scapes beneath our feet.

He was raised and educated in New England, New South Wales and has lived and worked in Europe, Africa, North America and most States of Australia. His passion is to paint the geological stories of the rocks beneath where he lives and works and to share these geological visions.

His paintings—wherever they are done—have a geological story behind them. When he returned to Australia in 2003 he moved to a small farm near Aratula in Queensland’s Scenic Rim where he set up a studio to indulge in his first love since he was a boy—painting.

He has presented his paintings, together with their geological stories, on sites across Africa, Portugal, United Kingdom, Canada, the United States, and throughout Australia. Audiences have included students, engineers, earth scientists, accountants, drilling crews, medical doctors, teachers, local councillors, politicians, farmers, tourists, lawyers, and maintenance workers.

His art has also “branded” academic and industry conferences together with television appearances on the ABC TV, Four Corners, the Seven Network’s Great South East and the Nine Network’s Extra. John’s artwork has also appeared at exhibitions in Trieste (Italy), Seattle (Washington), Brisbane, Canberra and Perth.

His work has been acquired by the University of New England, the Australian Petroleum Production and Exploration Association and a number of corporate and private collectors in Australia and overseas.

In 2013 he was awarded the Australian Petroleum Industry’s highest award, it’s Gold Medal (The Reg Sprigg Medal) for outstanding service to industry, art, the environment and teaching.

In 2017 John was elected to the Board of Trustees at the Institute for the Study of Earth and Man at Southern Methodist University, Dallas, Texas.

Awards and Recognition

2013: Australian Petroleum Industry's highest award, the Reg Sprigg Gold Medal for service including earth science education through geological art.

Exhibitions

2009: Two Wall Gallery, Washington, USA

2010: University of New England, Armidale, NSW

2010: Exhibition Centre, APPEA Conference, Southbank, Brisbane

2012: Art and Soul Gallery, Boonah, Queensland

2012: 34th International Geological Congress, Southbank, Brisbane

2013: Exhibition Centre, APPEA Conference, Southbank, Brisbane

2015: Grafton Regional Gallery, Artist in Residence, Grafton, NSW

2015: King Studio, Maclean, NSW

2016: Queensland Museum, UQ Poster Night, Southbank, Brisbane

2016: Yamba Museum, Yamba, NSW

2017: Exhibition Centre, PESA Conference, Southbank, Brisbane

2018: Fusion Restaurant, Yamba, NSW

Exhibiting Galleries

More Info

Other

The following are video clip and radio links to artwork, workshops and interviews;

1) ABC TV   "Does the Clarence Flow Backwards?" 

2) GeoArt Workshop with Indigenous students 

3) Evolution of the South Atlantic

4) Richard Fidler, “Conversations”, ABC Radio, 2009

5) Michael Cathcart “Books and Arts”, ABC Radio, 2013

6) GeoStory of the Cooper Basin, “Toolachee Target”, 2016
 

Visit John's website here.