Works
  • John Plumb, Colour Steps No 3
    John Plumb
    Colour Steps No 3
    signed, titled and dated 1970 on canvas overlap
    acrylic on cotton duck
    75 x 161 cms (29½ x 63½ ins)
    framed: 92 x 179 cms (36 x 70 ins)
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  • John Plumb, Red Line, Yellow Line
    John Plumb
    Red Line, Yellow Line
    signed and dated 1959 verso
    titled label verso
    oil on board
    122 x 46 cms (48 x 18 ins)
    framed: 124 x 48 cms (49 x 19 ins)
    £ 6,500.00 +arr
  • John Plumb, Colour Ladder
    John Plumb
    Colour Ladder
    painted circa 1970
    estate stamp verso
    acrylic on cotton duck
    202 x 106 cms (80 x 42 ins)
    framed: 205 x 109 cms (81 x 43 ins)
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  • John Plumb, Pink, 1966
    John Plumb
    Pink, 1966
    signed, dated 1966 and titled verso
    acrylic on cotton duck
    152 x 152 cms (60 x 60 ins)
    framed: 155 x 155 cms (61 x 61 ins)
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  • John Plumb, Grey August
    John Plumb
    Grey August
    signed, dated 1966 and titled verso
    PVA and acrylic emulsion on cotton duck
    183 x 183 cms (72 x 72 ins)
    framed: 188 x 188 cms (74 x 74 ins)
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  • John Plumb, Still Life (with Meat Mincer & Mangle)
    John Plumb
    Still Life (with Meat Mincer & Mangle)
    signed and titled verso
    painted in 1955
    oil on canvas
    101.5 x 89 cms (40 x 35 ins)
    framed: 116 x 103 cms (45½ x 40½ ins)
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Biography
John Plumb

A ground-breaking British abstract painter, John Plumb studied at Luton School of Art, 1942–1945, the Byam Shaw School, 1948–1950, and the Central School, 1952–1955 under Anthony Gross, Victor Pasmore, William Turnbull, and Keith Vaughan. It was while he was studying that he met and married Joan Lawrence.

 

Success came quickly for Plumb. He was represented in the AIA abstract exhibitions of 1953 and 1957, in the Situation exhibitions of 1960 and 1961 -  alongside Bridget Riley, William Turnbull, Robyn Denny, and others – and in a group exhibition at Leverkusen, 1961. Group exhibitions since this date include British Painting in 1974 at Hayward Gallery, London, and Art & the 60s: This Was Tomorrow at Tate Britain, 2004. His first one-person exhibition was at Gallery One in 1957. He subsequently showed at Marlborough and Axiom Galleries, followed by solo exhibitions throughout the UK, including Arnolfini Gallery, Bristol.

 

Plumb taught at Luton School of Art, 1955–1961, Maidstone College of Art, 1961–1966, and Bennington College, Vermont, 1968–1969. He was a Senior Lecturer in Painting at the Central School of Art and Design, London, from 1969 to 1982. After retiring from teaching, Plumb relocated to Yarnscombe, north Devon.

Exhibitions