John Hurford (born 1948) is a prolific English psychedelic artist. He was born on a farm in

Chulmleigh Chulmleigh ( ) is a small Saxon hilltop market town and civil parish located in North Devon in the heart of the English county of Devon. It is located north west of Exeter, just north of the Mid Devon boundary, linked by the A377 and B3096 ...

, Devon, England and began painting soon after he left school in 1964. Self-taught and with no formal training, he quickly became one of the real forces behind the British psychedelic art movement, and he was a contributor to all three of the most influential and important underground publications of the 1960s:

Oz (magazine) ''Oz'' was an independently published, alternative/underground magazine associated with the international counterculture of the 1960s. While it was first published in Sydney in 1963, a parallel version of ''Oz'' was published in London from 1967 ...

Gandalf's Garden Gandalf's Garden was a mystical community which flourished at the end of the 1960s as part of the London hippie-underground movement, and ran a shop and a magazine of the same name. It emphasised the mystical interests of the period, and advocated m ...

and

International Times ''International Times'' (''it'' or ''IT'') is the name of various underground newspapers, with the original title founded in London in 1966 and running until October 1973. Editors included John "Hoppy" Hopkins, David Mair ...

. He is an honorary member of the South West Academy. His work has been reproduced in many magazines and books since the nineteen sixties and his early work is in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum, London, UK. He has been shown in the

Victoria and Albert Museum The Victoria and Albert Museum (often abbreviated as the V&A) in London is the world's largest museum of applied arts, decorative arts and design, housing a permanent collection of over 2.27 million objects. It was founded in 1852 and nam ...

, London, Whitney Museum of American Art The Whitney in New York and The Tate Gallery in Liverpool. His early work (as much of it still is today) was crowded with flowers, birds and insects – highly detailed observations from the natural world he saw around him in the Devon countryside where he lives. He started to work on the farm immediately on leaving school at sixteen and continued to draw and paint. In the late sixties he successfully submitted work to counter-culture magazines. He painted in the evenings while working on the farm. He continued to work on books and produced fine art paintings, first in oils then in acrylics, pencil and watercolour. He has had many books published, has had many exhibitions locally and in New Zealand, France and London. In 2001 he started painting full time still designing posters and album covers including Gryphon (Band), Judy Dyble, Lowell Lovinger (The Youngbloods), Barry Melton, It's a beautiful Day, Martin Stone (guitarist) but concentrates on fine art painting – usually in acrylic on canvas, paper or wood panel.

Bibliography

1970: Betty's Wonderful Christmas –

Pam Gems Pam Gems (1 August 1925 – 13 May 2011) was an English playwright. The author of numerous original plays, as well as of adaptations of works by European playwrights of the past, Gems is best known for the 1978 musical play '' Piaf''. Personal ...

(St Lukes Press) UK illustrated 1972: The Eternal Man – Louis Pauwels and

Jacques Bergier Jacques Bergier (; maybe born Yakov Mikhailovich Berger (russian: link=no, Я́ков Миха́йлович Бéргер); Odessa, Paris, 23 November 1978) was a chemical engineer, member of the French-resistance, spy, journalist and writer. He ...

(Souvenir Press) UK cover 1973: Moby Dick – Herman Melville (J.M.Dent) UK cover 1974: The Lion of Boaz-Jachim and Jachim-Boaz – Russell Hoban (Cape) UK, cover 1973: The Spring on the Mountain – Judy Allen (Cape) UK cover 1974: The Dormouse – John Hurford (Cape) written and illustrated,(Spindlewood) UK hardback and paperback reprint 1974: The Faerie Queen –

Edmund Spenser Edmund Spenser (; 1552/1553 – 13 January 1599) was an English poet best known for ''The Faerie Queene'', an epic poem and fantastical allegory celebrating the Tudor dynasty and Elizabeth I. He is recognized as one of the premier craftsmen of ...

(J.M.Dent) UK cover 1974: The Lion of Boaz-Jachim and Jachim-Boaz (Picador) UK cover 1974: The Whys and Wherefores of Littabelle Lee – Vera and Bill Cleaver (Hamish Hamilton) UK cover 1974: World Wildlife Diary (Collins) UK all illustrations 1975: ABC of Animals (Cape) UK written and illustrated 1975: The Whispering Butterfly – George Lavin UK cover 1980: Fredgehog – John Hurford (Spindlewood) UK written and illustrated 1988: Jordy – Mary-Ellen Lang Collura (Spindlewood) UK cover 1988 Julie –

Cora Taylor Cora Taylor (born January 14, 1936) is a Canadian writer. Born in Fort Qu'Appelle, Saskatchewan, she moved to Edmonton in 1955.

(Spindlewood) UK cover 1989: Alex –

Tessa Duder Tessa Duder (née Staveley, born 13 November 1940) is a New Zealand author of novels for young people, short stories, plays and non-fiction, and a former swimmer who won a silver medal for her country at the 1958 British Empire and Commonwealth ...

(Penguin) NZ cover 1989: At Night – Marcia Vaughan (Shortland) NZ, US, Aus illustrated 1989: The Crab at the Bottom of the Sea (Shortland) NZ, US, Aus illustrated 1989: The Priests of Ferris –

Maurice Gee Maurice Gough Gee (born 22 August 1931) is a New Zealand novelist. He is one of New Zealand's most distinguished and prolific authors, having written over thirty novels for adults and children, and has won numerous awards both in New Zealand an ...

(Puffin) NZ cover 1989: The Ultimate Heresy – John Seymour (Green Books) UK cover 1990: A Happy Tale –

Dorothy Butler Muriel Dorothy Butler (née Norgrove, 24 April 1925 – 20 September 2015) was a New Zealand children's book author, bookseller, memoirist and reading advocate. She was a recipient of the Eleanor Farjeon Award. Personal life Butler was born in ...

(Random Century) NZ, (Crocodile Books) US, (Bodley Head) UK illustrated 1990: Dump Bear – Jenny Hessell (Random Century) NZ, (Ashton Scholastic) global illustrated 1990: Son of Thunder – Stig Holmas (Spindlwood) UK illustrated 1990: The Little Spider –

Margaret Beames Margaret Beames (18 October 1935 – 9 February 2016) was a multi-award-winning author of children's books who lived in Feilding, New Zealand. Her first book was ''The Greenstone Summer'', published in 1977. She had 42 books published, including ...

(Shortland) NZ, US, Aus illustrated 1990: The Myth of the Market – Jeremy Seabrook (Green Books) UK cover 1990: The Selfish Giant – Leanna Traill (Shortland) NZ, US, Aus illustrated 1991: Alex in Winter –

(Penguin) NZ cover 1991: Amazing Journeys –

Ron Bacon Ronald Alfred Sydney Bacon (born 4 March 1935) is an English former professional footballer who played as a winger for two clubs in the Football League, making 170 appearances. Early life Ronald Alfred Sydney Bacon was born on 4 March 1935 i ...

(Shortland) NZ, US, Aus part illustrated 1991: Another Happy Tale –

(Random Century) NZ, (Crocodile Books) US illustrated 1991: Famous Children – Allen Trussell-Cullen (Shortland) NZ, US, Aus part illustrated 1991: Mr Cat – Ruth Corrin (Random Century) NZ illustrated 1992: Alessandra – Alex in Rome (Penguin) NZ cover 1992: `Bow Down Shadrach – Joy Cowley (Puffin) NZ cover 1992: Hideaway –

Joan de Hamel Joan de Hamel (31 March 1924 – 28 July 2011) was a New Zealand children's writer. She grew up in London, England and later moved to the Otago Peninsula. In addition to her writing she worked as a teacher, raised a family, and bred Angora goa ...

(Puffin) NZ cover 1992: Marcella –

Owen McShane Owen may refer to: Origin: The name Owen is of Irish and Welsh origin. Its meanings range from noble, youthful, and well-born. Gender: Owen is historically the masculine form of the name. Popular feminine variations include Eowyn and Owena. ...

(Shortland) NZ, US, Aus, illustrated 1992: Rabbit Stew – John Hurford (Shortland) NZ, US, Aus written and illustrated 1992: Songs for Alex – Tessa Duduer (Oxford University Press) NZ cover 1993: Big Green Caterpillar –

Julie Holland Julie Holland (born December 13, 1965) is an American psychopharmacologist, psychiatrist, and author. She is the author of five books, including ''Weekends at Bellevue: Nine Years on the Night Shift at the Psych ER,'' a memoir documenting her e ...

(Shortland) NZ, US, Aus illustrated 1993: How Fire Came to Earth – Avelyn Davidson (Shortland) NZ, US, Aus illustrated 1993: I Have a Question Grandma – Catie Belleveau (Shortland) NZ, US, Aus illustrated 1993: Isememe's Stories – Isimeme Ibazebo (Spindlewood) NZ, (Bok Books) Pan African illustrated 1993: Someone Came Knocking – Anne Merrick (Spindlewood) cover 1993: The Haunted Glass – Diane Howells (Spindlewood) UK cover 1994: A Wetland Home –

Mary Small Mary may refer to: People * Mary (name), a feminine given name (includes a list of people with the name) Religious contexts * New Testament people named Mary, overview article linking to many of those below * Mary, mother of Jesus, also calle ...

(Sunshine Books) Aus, NZ, US illustrated 1994: Apache Pass – Stig Holmas (Spindlewood) UK cover 1994: Hide and Seek –

Saviour Pirotta Saviour Pirotta is a Maltese-born British author and playwright who resides in England. He is mostly known for the bestselling The Orchard Book of First Greek Myths, an adaptation of the Russian folktale, Firebird, and the Ancient Greek Myste ...

(Collins) UK illustrated 1994: Luke's First Day – Chris Lutratio (Collins) UK illustrated 1994: Watery Worlds – Janine Scott (Shortland) NZ, US, Aus part illustrated 1994: What am I? – Susan Brocker (Shortland) NZ, US, Aus part illustrated 1995: Columbine – Franzeska G. Ewart (Spindlewood) UK cover 1995: Dark Waters – Tessa Potter (Spindlewood) UK cover 1995: Fira Wagons – Stig Holmas (Spindlewood) UK illustrated 1996: Hannah's Ghosts – Anne Merrick (Spindlewood0_ UK cover 1996: Honey Tree – Traditional (Shortland) NZ, US, Aus cover 1995: In the Past – Susan Brocker (Shortland) NZ, US, Aus part illustrated 1996: People of the Rising Sun – Stig Holmas (Spindlewood) UK illustrated 1996: Te Papaka – Leanna Trail (Shortland) NZ illustrated 1995: Trog – Ruth Corrin (Sunshine Books) NZ illustrated 1997: Burrows – Marcia Vaughan (Shortlands) NZ, US, Aus illustrated 1997: How Lizard Lost His Colors – Jay Steele (Shortlands) NZ, US, Aus illustrated 1997: Nature Detective – Lynette Evans (Shortlands) NZ, US, Aus illustrated 1997: No Roof in Bosnia –

Els de Groen Elly de Groen-Kouwenhoven (;''Groen'' in isolation: . born 23 December 1949 in The Hague as Elly Kouwenhoven, and now generally known as Els de Groen) is a Dutch author and politician, who served as a Member of the European Parliament 2004–2009. ...

(Spindlewood) UK cover 1997: Roberto's Smile – Joy Cowley (Shortland) NZ, US, Aus illustrated 1997: The Story of Small Fry – Marcia Vaughan (Shortland) NZ, US, Aus illustrated 1997: The Sunday Horse – Marie Gibson (Shortland) NZ, US, Aus illustrated 1997: What Can it Be? – Dorothy Avery (Shortland) NZ, US, Aus illustrated 1997: Who? – Augie Hunter (Shortland) NZ, US, Aus illustrated 1997: Whose Tracks? – Marcia Vaughan (Celebration Press) US illustrated 1998: Como Aprendio A Volar El Murcielago – Edwin Johns (Shortland) NZ, US, Aus illustrated 1998: How Bat Learned to Fly – Edwin Johns (Shortlands) NZ, US, Aus illustrated 1998: Snow – Jo Windsor (Heinemann) NZ illustrated 1999: Androcles and the Lion – Janine Scott (Shortland) NZ, US, AUS, UK illustrated 1999: Isn't it Cool? – Diana Short Yurkovic (Shortland) NZ, US, Aus part illustrated 2000: Snake's Reward – Traditional (Mexico) (Shortland) NZ, US, Aus illustrated 2000: What's this Spider Doing? – John Hurford (Shortland) NZ, US, Aus written and illustrated 2001: No Roof in Bosnia –

(Spindlewood) UK new cover 2001: The Dead are listening – Francis McCrickard (Spindlewood) UK cover 2001: Snow Globe – Anne Merrick (Spindlewood) UK cover 2006: Johnny, the Work of Psychedelic Artist John Hurford – John Hurford, edited Jonathan Hill (Sunrise Press) UK, Global entire 2010: Ackroyd's Ark Two – charity book for Tusk Trust one painting 2014: The Art of Big O (Big Vision Publishing) US, UK ten pages 2014: South West Academy Art+People+Place – Michael Carter (Halstar) examples of his fine art 2015: Later Graphic Work – John Hurford (Wixon Editions) entire 2016: You Say You Want a Revolution (Exhibition catalogue – Victoria and Albert Museum, London) UK (Harry N Abrahams) US 2016: Rural Bliss (Wixon Editions) entire 2017: British Underground Press of the Sixties (Rocket 88) UK illustrations included 2018: It Must be Art – Michael Fishel (Schiffer) US 2018: Moth – Jane Springer (LSU Press) US cover 2019: One Hundred Years of the Society of Graphic Fine Arts (SGFA) UK examples of his fine art

External links

*https://www.johnhurford.net/ *http://www.johnhurford.co.uk *http://www.shagratrecords.com/ {{DEFAULTSORT:Hurford, John Psychedelic artists People from North Devon (district) 1948 births Living people