Andrew Johnstone

United States  • 1933

Presentation

Andrew Johnstone was born in 1933 to journalist father James and opera singer mother Dorothea. He was educated at Pinewood School and then Marlborough College, which he left at age 15 after completing his Higher Cert to embark on a motorcycle adventure through Europe in 1949 and 1950. His trip the took him to the University of Strasbourg and Sorbornne where he became fluent in French. and German. He joined the Scots Guards for two years for his national service. He served in the Egyptian Canal Zone, then learned Arabic in the copper bazaars of Baghdad.

Johnstone then read PPE at St John's College, Oxford, where he indulged his childhood passion for painting, studying drawing at the Ruskin School of Art for two terms. From an early age, Andrew showed a determination to walk in the opposite direction to his peers. While most Oxford undergraduates headed to London and the debutante balls on vacation, Andrew applied to join the French Foreign Legion. When he was refused, he applied for a visa at the Russian Embassy to walk to Moscow – also refused.

Although he joined the Foreign Office after coming down from Oxford, he was never really at home in the Establishment. His postings in places like Syria, Pakistan, Cambodia and Ireland were perfect for him. First in Beirut where Johnstone studied at the famous MECAS, adding fluency in Arabic to his repertoire, before continuing to the Trucial States, Oman and Damascus. Many adventures followed, including a great friendship with Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan who became the ruler of Abu Dhabi, a legendary camel trek to Liwa Oasis and the rescue of a slave who suffered for a long time.

On all of his overseas assignments, Andrew Johnstone painted and drew. He had a solo show in Rawalpindi with the British Council and exhibited at the Living Arts Exhibition in Belfast and the Royal Irish Academy in Dublin. Focusing mainly on figurative works, these exhibitions and commissions hint at a potential second career. In 1963, Johnstone married Diane, before being posted to Syria and then to Cambodia in 1969-71. His last posting was in Ireland, then in 1973, in his forties, Andrew took early retirement from the Foreign Office. He moved his family to a small estate on a hill near Helston in Cornwall.


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All artworks of Andrew Johnstone
Painting, Big fish II, Andrew Johnstone

Big fish II

Andrew Johnstone

Painting - 31.5 x 47.2 x 0.8 inch

£7,146

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Who is the artist?

Andrew Johnstone was born in 1933 to journalist father James and opera singer mother Dorothea. He was educated at Pinewood School and then Marlborough College, which he left at age 15 after completing his Higher Cert to embark on a motorcycle adventure through Europe in 1949 and 1950. His trip the took him to the University of Strasbourg and Sorbornne where he became fluent in French. and German. He joined the Scots Guards for two years for his national service. He served in the Egyptian Canal Zone, then learned Arabic in the copper bazaars of Baghdad.

Johnstone then read PPE at St John's College, Oxford, where he indulged his childhood passion for painting, studying drawing at the Ruskin School of Art for two terms. From an early age, Andrew showed a determination to walk in the opposite direction to his peers. While most Oxford undergraduates headed to London and the debutante balls on vacation, Andrew applied to join the French Foreign Legion. When he was refused, he applied for a visa at the Russian Embassy to walk to Moscow – also refused.

Although he joined the Foreign Office after coming down from Oxford, he was never really at home in the Establishment. His postings in places like Syria, Pakistan, Cambodia and Ireland were perfect for him. First in Beirut where Johnstone studied at the famous MECAS, adding fluency in Arabic to his repertoire, before continuing to the Trucial States, Oman and Damascus. Many adventures followed, including a great friendship with Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan who became the ruler of Abu Dhabi, a legendary camel trek to Liwa Oasis and the rescue of a slave who suffered for a long time.

On all of his overseas assignments, Andrew Johnstone painted and drew. He had a solo show in Rawalpindi with the British Council and exhibited at the Living Arts Exhibition in Belfast and the Royal Irish Academy in Dublin. Focusing mainly on figurative works, these exhibitions and commissions hint at a potential second career. In 1963, Johnstone married Diane, before being posted to Syria and then to Cambodia in 1969-71. His last posting was in Ireland, then in 1973, in his forties, Andrew took early retirement from the Foreign Office. He moved his family to a small estate on a hill near Helston in Cornwall.

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When was Andrew Johnstone born?

The year of birth of the artist is: 1933