Most fans know John Illsley as the bassist and one of the founding members of Dire Straits. However, music is not his only passion. Away from the stage, John has spent many years developing another form of creativity: painting.
Although he continues to make music, John Illsley has often said that visual art has become one of the most important parts of his life.
How John Illsley Discovered His Love for Art
John first became interested in painting when he was around 15 years old. His passion was inspired by his art teacher, Don Faulkner, who encouraged students to express themselves freely.
During the 1960s, school education was often very formal, but Don Faulkner brought a different approach. He showed students that art did not have strict rules and that there were countless ways to create something meaningful.
“He gave you the chance to express yourself in whatever way you wanted and he used to organize these wonderful trips to London. I think it was 1966 when we went down to the Royal Academy and they put on a show of Pierre Bonnard’s work. I went with him and a few others and it just completely blew me away,” John explained.
(You can also explore more of John Illsley’s paintings here.)
Around the same period, John also discovered another passion: playing guitar. As a teenager, he faced a difficult choice between music and art. Eventually, he decided to follow the path of a musician, which led him to become a member of one of the most successful bands in rock history, Dire Straits.
From Dire Straits to the Art World
After Dire Straits finished touring, John returned to painting around 1992 or 1993.
He created a studio and began working regularly whenever he had time. It took several years before he presented his work publicly, but his first exhibition came in 1997 and 1998 alongside other musicians who were also painters, including Ronnie Wood and several others.
Since then, John has held solo exhibitions in cities such as London, Sydney, and New York. Although he has sold many paintings throughout his career, John continues to focus on the creative process itself. Today, he is represented by the Belgravia Gallery in London and continues to develop new work.
John has always enjoyed visiting galleries and studying the work of other artists. Among the painters who influenced him are Ben Nicholson, Georges Braque, William Scott, Peter Lanyon, and Roger Hilton.
He also admires the work of Pablo Picasso, but one artist had a particularly strong influence on him: Australian painter Brett Whiteley.
John met Whiteley during Dire Straits’ visit to Australia in 1982. They became friends, and John quickly recognized that Whiteley was a truly unique artist.
Another important influence in John’s artistic journey was Maggi Hambling, who taught him sculpture during an art course.
John explained that she showed him the importance of transferring energy from the subject being observed into the artwork itself.
“I tend to work on a group of paintings at once. I get really involved in looking at something and trying to interpret it and then I suddenly stop and move on to something else,” John said.
The Creative Journey Continues
Throughout his artistic career, John explored many different themes. At one point, he created a series of paintings focused on guitars, but he did not want to become known only for painting musical instruments or images connected to Dire Straits.
His goal has always been to continue exploring new ideas.
“I went through a whole phase of painting guitars, but I didn’t want to end up just painting instruments or the band,” John explained.
John describes himself as someone who enjoys being creative every day.
“I bounce out of bed most mornings. It drives my wife crazy but I don’t like wasting time and I’m always excited to get to work.”
Currently, John works on large abstract paintings and continues exploring different colors and emotions.
He spent years focused on blue, later moved into a green period, and more recently became fascinated with the color red.
When Dire Straits ended touring, John also reconnected with his former teacher Don Faulkner. Today, they occasionally meet at the Royal Academy, visit exhibitions, enjoy a coffee or lunch, and continue their conversations about art.
For John Illsley, creativity has always been at the center of his life. Whether through music or painting, he continues to express himself through stories, emotions, and artistic exploration.
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