Lee Johnson

The group consists of artists that range from recent graduates in their early 20s to established artists in their 60s – we feel the best way to learn is from many viewpoints. They are all painters but with very different approaches as to what painting is to them as individuals, but they are united by the belief that painting is about understanding the world around us, and showing others a potentially different perspective. They will put on a wide-ranging painting show, and the breadth of knowledge, talent and exhibition history is very far-reaching among their group, including prize-winning artists, and celebrated exhibitions in commercial, public institutions and museums. As well as practicing artists they count among them academics, published writers, art broadcasters, lecturers, critics, musicians, art school founders, tutors, curators and podcasters.

The Euston Road School of painters (1937-39) were based a stone’s throw from the Euston Tower space. To highlight their legacy, the exhibition of 20 artists responding to the ethos of the school, who focussed on painting personal, everyday subjects relatable to wider audiences. Their goal was to make art relevant to the public at a time when modernism, abstraction and surrealism were for the elite. The exhibition will incorporate a working artist’s studio into the space to dynamically engage the audience to watch a painter at work, and host painting tutorials and public criticism sessions within it.

The group will incorporate a working artist’s studio into the exhibition – Euston Road School was a studio building after all, with lessons and tutorials. Throughout the duration of their exhibition one of the exhibiting artists will use the studio to paint, so the public (local residents, office workers) walking past the floor-ceiling ground floor windows can watch an artist at work, encouraging them to engage with the show. Some exhibitors also teach in leading London art schools and will host four painting workshops, and they will encourage the public to bring their their work in for informal criticism sessions.