Ben Johnson

Ben Johnson is an artist who takes his inspiration from the built environment. Born in 1946 in Llandudno, Whales he is a modern equivalent of 18th century painters such as Vermeer and Canaletto.

His process is long and detailed and includes photography, rigorous drawing and the application of paint in tiny patches using a spray gun.

This view from the roof of the National Gallery captures some of London’s greatest landmarks.

Detail of line drawing for Looking Back to Richmond House, 2010.

Ben Johnson will  be exhibiting in Gallery I at the National Gallery, Trafalgar Square, London from 8th December 2010 to 23rd January 2011 to coincide with a major Canaletto exhibition. His panoramas of Liverpool and Zürich will be shown alongside a work representing the view from the roof of the National Gallery but showing the strong compositional relationship with Canaletto’s “The Stonemason’s Yard.” Johnson and his team will be setting up their studio in Gallery I and completing this painting in public.