John Emanuel (1930-2024) was a prominent figure in the St Ives art scene, creating work from his Porthmeor Studio space since the 1980s. His work is inspired by a love of his subject - the figure, and the figure embraced by the landscape. Working in a variety of media from charcoal to gouache and oils, his paintings exhibit a clear, classical form and a simplicity of line which strengthens the relationship between the contours of the figure and the contours of the Cornish landscape.
From 'Artists in Britain Since 1945' by David Buckman (Art Dictionaries Ltd, part of Sansom & Company):
Painter in oils and mixed media, born in Bury, Lancashire. Emanuel served an apprenticeship in decorating, signwriting and graining and did his National Service with the Army in Hong Kong. Did not begin painting until in his thirties and then did not show any work for a decade. Lived in St Ives, Cornwall, from the mid-1960s where, although he had no formal art training, he was helped by Denis Mitchell, John Wells and Alexander Mackenzie. Emanuel was noted for nude studies which he said were "also about Penwith, its standing stones, cliff faces and countryside, about living here".
He was a member of Penwith Society of Arts and of Newlyn Society of Artists, of which he was chairman, 1977-8. Took part in numerous mixed shows in Britain and abroad.
Had two solo shows at Wills Lane Gallery, St Ives, 1975-6, others including Montpelier Studio from 1979 and Beaux Arts Gallery, Bath, from 1988, also Maltby Gallery, Winchester, in 2004. Cornwall County Council Schools Library Service and Parnham House, Beaminster, hold his work.