Leighton-Jones

CO 127 (128 for the boy)
© B.P. CO.

''These unique, and instantly recognizable paintings of children 'dressed down', always with 'serious' expressions, are the  most rare and sought after by collectors. The images capture street kids and children dressed as adults. These works celebrate the spirit of children of all ages and from all backgrounds.  These pictures have a universal appeal, capture the spontaneity and freshness of their make-believe worlds, and at the same time reawaken the viewer's personal memories of childhood with their simplicity, honesty and sincerity. They evoke the fantasy, mischief and pleasure that children derive from their endless imaginations. Children at play try to know what it’s like to be grown up, older, wiser, braver and independent, and by putting on mummy's dress and high-heeled shoes, or daddy's uniform, they step into the adult world which then becomes safe, harmless, less intimidating.''

''Leighton-Jones works with spontaneity, but also with the ideas of clear and precise statement so his art never lacks feeling or depth and the best of L-J's paintings are charged with a poetic sensibility, rhythm and emotion. He also has an instinctive grasp of human psychology, although if you asked him he'd find it difficult to explain this gift, and this fascination with the layers of the psyche has allowed him to produce images that have an immense immediate appeal but which are also constructed around many deeper levels of meaning. The concepts of 'man vs man' and 'man vs nature' can be felt strongly in many of his images, often adding a tragi-comic element to his subjects. He is a choreographic painter, with a natural ability to order detailed figurative compositions into a fluid and harmonious whole, (he is classical in his knowledge of the body but modern in his grasp of emotion and circumstance), while he also fulfils the roles of illustrator, commercial artist, and social commentator. As an artist of and for the people, it is no wonder that L-J has always maintained that all artists should be advertised in the listings pages of telephone directories.''

''Barry Leighton-Jones was born in London, England in 1932 and is a direct descendant of the Victorian artist and President of the Royal Academy, Lord Frederic Leighton. He began his artistic career at the age of five by winning a major art competition, and later completed seven years of academic training at Sidcup and Brighton and was tutored by the acclaimed English artist and illustrator from the Royal College of Art - John Minton. After launching himself straight into the art world, his paintings were very quickly in demand, many of them were published and his international reputation began. In 1985, he was chosen to create a series of images based on the life and work of the famous American clown - Emmett Kelly. Many of the paintings and sketches were produced as limited edition prints and figurines, all becoming best sellers and eagerly sought after by collectors all over the U.S.A. He is now known as one of the leading painters of clowns in America. His work, whether depicting children, social situations or entertainers, is full of humor, celebration and pathos.''

''The years between 1986 and 1992 define one of the most important and prolific periods in the career of Barry Leighton-Jones. Those years mark his selection by various licensors to produce paintings with the purpose of reproduction in several forms: prints, collectors plates, figurines, etc. The foremost of these commissions were "The Emmett Kelly Collection", "The Gone With The Wind Collection" and "The Wizard of Oz Collection". Since 1992, the original paintings have been exhibited throughout the USA, including a stunning collection of 40 original paintings and a series of "Emmett Kelly" drawings which were on exhibition at The Ringling Circus Museum in Sarasota, Florida from December 1998 through June 1999.''

'''Humour in art is a British tradition going back to Hogarth and Rowlandson, yet is rare today outside the world of political cartooning. For 50 years or so, I have humour in many of my paintings and continue to do so. Much of the subject matter derives from childhood memories and early man-hood experiences i.e the wedding breakfasts, the pubs and the weighty ladies. For the past 25 years I have lived and exhibited in the U.S.A. showing to a varied ethnic and cultural clientele. At first I wasn't sure how the British sense of humour would be appreciated but my doubts were dissolved when these people began to buy the works. Men and women identified different characters in my pictures as people they knew as friends or relatives. On numerous occasions I was asked to dedicate the pieces personally to the buyer as he or she found a resemblance to a character. Most artists are pleased when their works are beautifully painted, I'm happy when a painting elicits a good laugh'. Barry Leighton-Jones - Nov 1998''