John Holmes 1935 – 2011 UK. Surrealist Painter
Among some of the worlds leading surrealist painters, Holmes took much of his inspiration from Salvador Dali as well as René Magritte. Read more –>

His first one man show was at the Raille Gallery Islington in 1961 followed by years of many successful shows at some of the world’s top galleries in the USA, Europe and the UK. Famous for painting Germaine Greer’s Book cover “Female Eunuch.

At this time, he also worked as an art Director in Advertising and spent many years illustrating for top publishing houses throughout the world including Paladin where he designed and painted the famous book jacket for Germaine Greer’s book, “Female Eunuch” in 1971.

Among some of his other most notable illustrations Holmes also designed the Book Jacket for Jaws. Since then, his art has been used on numerous book covers and for magazine illustrations worldwide, (including the cover for Pan Books of Peter Benchley’s ‘Jaws’ in 1975 and covers for ten H P Lovecraft books published by Ballantine),
‘Holmes’ unique interpretation of the indefinable point where reality and fantasy converge that makes his art extraordinary. “John Holmes’ work blisters…of searing eroticism, high camp, coarse belly laughs and hideous vulgarity – all ingredients in the best surrealistic tradition.” (Art and Artist Magazine)
Among some of the worlds leading surrealist painters, Holmes takes much of his inspiration from Salvador Dali as well as Rene Magritte. Among his other paintings Holmes was inspired to paint Sister Eunuch.
Roman Polanski owns two of John Holmes paintings as well as a commissioned self Portrait.

Resident Artist: McNeill Gallery

• Society of Illustrators New York Award
• Royal Society of Arts Award – The Female Eunuch
• Surreal painters of the ages – Published Illustrations by Ballantine Press NY 2008
• Surreal painters 21st Century: Published by John Wiley & Sons Brisbane Australia 2009

See also a selection of prints by John Holmes here.