“… to allow the landscape itself to speak … undisrupted by personal spasms and stylistic itches which tend today to take over the image.”

His linocuts were produced by the ‘elimination’ method. Only one piece of lino is used and this is gradually cut away as each colour is overprinted on the previous ones. Normally there are five to seven colours on each print, and there are seldom more than 15 copies made. Once the edition is complete, no more prints can be made because most of the lino has been cut away – or ‘eliminated’.

John was also a painter in oils and watercolour, studying at Northampton Art School, 1947-51, and Leeds College of Art, 1951-52.  He became a member of the Royal West of England Academy (RWA) in 1980. For many years he sold his work from his own gallery in Fachelich. He usually left it unattended, and liked to think that it was the only self-service gallery in the country.  To see images of John Stops' prints, please see his entry under 'Printmakers'.