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You are here: Home / Artworks / John Downton

John Downton

(Born 1939 )

Born in Sydney in 1939, John Downton (OAM) is one of Australia's finest international landscape and navy artists. He was awarded the Order of Australia (OAM) for services to visual arts as a landscape and maritime artist and for services to the community in 2017.

He initially trained and worked in watchmaking but realised his dream later to become a professional artist. He attended classes at the Royal Art Society of NSW and private lessons with George Duncan.

He is passionate about the sea, and he travelled to East Timor in 2000 as an official Navy artist and documented naval and peacekeeping activities in paintings.  He continues to paint historical and present-day naval activities, and a gallery has been named after him at the Fleet Air Arm Museum at HMAS Albatross.

John Downton has held exhibitions in Sydney, Eden, Canberra, and internationally. Companies and public institutions have used John's work on calendars and cards. If you want to know more about John’s life he has published a 338 page autobiography, The Dirty Big Red Book: Downton, An Artist on the Move, which includes colour photographs of many of John's works.

  • Additional resources for John Downton
    • John Downton - Australian Society of Marine Artists (marineartistsaustralia.com.au)
    • Downton Art Studios

Howzat Good Catch Sea Fury RAN

HMAS Canberra (lll) - Garden Island Sydney by John Downton

HMAS Canberra (lll) – Garden Island Sydney

Moments of Pride by John Downton

Moments of Pride

Silent Witness, HMAS Melbourne, Dili, East Timor by John Downton

Silent Witness, HMAS Melbourne, Dili, East Timor

Forging the Bight HMAS Sydney by John Downton

Forging the Bight HMAS Sydney

Essential Service Ship by John Downton

Essential Service Ship

Essential Services Ship HMAS Westralia (ll) by John Downton

Essential Services Ship HMAS Westralia (ll)

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