JOHN DOWNTON OAM FBAS FRAS FASMA 

Initially trained and worked in watchmaking, but realised his dream later to become a professional artist.

​Attended art classes at the Royal Art Society of NSW. Teachers: Kenneth Green, Allan Hanson, Arthur Murch. Also attended private lessons with George Duncan and spent many years Plein Air Painting with mentor and master artist Leonard Long OAM. Painting career started 1973. Has held over 85 solo exhibitions to date, with the very first in 1973.

Study tours: Ireland, America, Taiwan, Singapore, France, New Zealand, Phillipines, Thailand, China, Great Britain and Vietnam

Mediums include acrylic oil, watercolour, gouache, ink, wash charcoal, pencil. Style is flexible including landscape, still life, marine paintings, life paintings and drawing. Representational to modern.
 Fellowships
Life memberships ​
Awards include
  • 2nd prize, Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Art Competition 1974
  • 1st prize, Caltex Art Award 1976, 1977, 1978
  • Kiama Council Commercial Garden Art Design Award 1986​
  • Japanese Cultural Award and Citation, 25th Taiyo Art Award 1989
  • 1st prize for outstanding painting and Special Citation for Outstanding Artist, ​35th Annual Pacific Cultural Exhibition, Japan 1999
  • 1st prize, Kiama Art Awards 2001
  • President's Medal, Australian Society of Marine Artists 2004
  • 1st prize, Royal Motor Yacht Club Maritime Exhibition 2005
  • Order of Australia Medal (OAM) for service to the visual arts as a maritime artist and to the community 2017
  • Inducted into the Kiama Arts Honour Roll by the Kiama Municipal Council 2015
  • 1st prize, Australian Society of Marine Artists National Online Exhibition 2023
  • Best in Show prize, Australian Society of Marine Artists National Exhibition, Victorian Artists Society Galleries Melbourne 2023
  • Winner of Maritime Prize for 'Life on the Harbour, Sydney' Australian Society of Marine Artists' National Exhibition 2024

Special achievements include
  • First artist ever invited to hold an exhibition at the Mitchell Library in Sydney 1988 (Bicentennial Celebrations)
  • One of John Downton's works reproduced as an international Christmas card by Westpac Bank 1990
  • Invited by Ireland to hold a one-man exhibition at the Bank of Ireland's Exhibition Centre as part of Dublin's official celebration as cultural city of Europe 1991
  • Official Navy Artist (NA), East Timor 2000, produced 50 paintings documenting naval & peacekeeping activities
  • Honorary member, Fleet Air Arm Association of Australia 2000
  • Featured in "Australian Artist" magazine 1989, 1998, 1999
  • Featured in "Artists and Galleries of Australia and New Zealand" by Max Germaine
  • Featured in "Australian Artists Today"
  • Painting selected for NSW Parliament Christmas card 2000
  • Painting "Aussie Rough Riders" inducted into the Australian Stockman’s Hall of Fame at Longreach QLD
  • Painting presented to His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand on his 84th birthday 2011
  • Named official artist for the Fleet Air Arm Museum at HMAS Albatross, with a gallery named in his honour 2014​
  • Awarded Life Member of the Shoalhaven Art Society in 2019
  • Past judge for many local and regional art shows including the Sydney Royal Easter Show, "Art of Sydney" Awards Exhibition, Thirroul Seaside & Arts Festival, Nowra Show, Kiama Art Show and Art Awards, Bega Valley Art Awards, Tumut Art Awards, Shoalhaven Art Awards, Annual Mattara Indoor Art Exhibition Newcastle, and Townsville Art Society​
Publications
  • John Downton's Bicentennial Art Exhibition Booklet, from the Mitchell Library exhibition, Sydney 1988
  • The Dirty Big Red Book: Downton, An Artist on the Move Autobiography 2009​

Public works
  • Designer of 20+ historical to modern large coloured cement nautical depictions for Eden's cycle walkway