Obituary for John Stobart
It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of John Stobart, one of the world's most renowned maritime artists, on March 2nd, 2023. He was 93 years old.
He is survived by his wife Anne, whose devotion to the man and his career was unbounded, his three children, Diana Wild, Elizabeth Stobart, and Bill Stobart from his first wife Kay Stobart; his son-in-law Fred Wild, daughter-in-law Sherry Stobart, three grandchildren Sam, Lilly and Zoe, and three great-grandchildren Layana, Lucas, and Reggie. He will be deeply missed by his family, friends, and the countless people around the world who admired his work and were touched by his kindness.
Born in Leicester, England, John was surrounded by the beautiful countryside and developed an early appreciation for the landscape… he always considered himself a landscape painter at heart. But at the age of 8, a visit to his grandmother’s home in the north allowed him an excursion to the port of Liverpool – at the time, the busiest port in England. This sparked his lifelong desire to capture the excitement of world trade that comes to life in a port. Stobart would go on to study at the Derby College of Art and the Royal Academy in London, where he developed his skills in composition and perspective.
By the early 1960s, shipping companies weren’t just buying his paintings, they were commissioning his work and sponsoring his travel overseas. If you ever had the chance to speak with John, he would likely tell you his “life was a series of miracles.” One of the most notable of these miracles happened early on in his career… on a train ride from Toronto to New York City, Stobart unknowingly befriended Donald Holden, the editor of American Artist Magazine. That unlikely meeting would lead him to Kennedy Galleries, which would go on to host Stobart’s first solo exhibition in 1967.
In 1970, the Stobart family emigrated to the United States and settled in the coastal town of Darien, Connecticut. Later, while the family was living in the Washington, D.C. area, he established the Atlantic Gallery near his Georgetown studio. He continued to produce stunning works that captured the imagination of collectors and enthusiasts alike. His compositions often feature views of iconic locations such as Boston, New York, San Francisco, London, Cape Town, and many others; his paintings are not just works of art but also historical records of a bygone era.
Over the course of his career, Stobart received numerous awards and honors for his contributions to the art world; among them was his election to the prestigious National Academy of Design in New York and the Royal Society of Marine Artists in 1979, and the American Society of Marine Artists presented him with the Award of Excellence, the society’s highest honor. In 2008, he returned home to Derby, U.K., where he was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Letters from the University of Derby, which had subsumed the Derby College of Art years earlier.
In addition to his artistic achievements, Stobart was a generous philanthropist. He established the Stobart Foundation to support recently graduated in their transition to becoming professional artists. Stobart recognized, from personal experience, that this time is crucial in an artist’s development. His goal was to offer an environment of support and provide financial assistance at a time when the artist’s energies and resources are at their lowest point. Despite his overwhelming success, John remained humble and approachable, and was widely admired for his generosity.
John Stobart's legacy will live on through his paintings, which will continue to inspire artists and captivate audiences for generations to come, as well as through the works of the Stobart Foundation recipients.
Donations in Stobart’s memory may be made to The Stobart Foundation. https://stobartfoundation.org/
Burial will be private.
He is survived by his wife Anne, whose devotion to the man and his career was unbounded, his three children, Diana Wild, Elizabeth Stobart, and Bill Stobart from his first wife Kay Stobart; his son-in-law Fred Wild, daughter-in-law Sherry Stobart, three grandchildren Sam, Lilly and Zoe, and three great-grandchildren Layana, Lucas, and Reggie. He will be deeply missed by his family, friends, and the countless people around the world who admired his work and were touched by his kindness.
Born in Leicester, England, John was surrounded by the beautiful countryside and developed an early appreciation for the landscape… he always considered himself a landscape painter at heart. But at the age of 8, a visit to his grandmother’s home in the north allowed him an excursion to the port of Liverpool – at the time, the busiest port in England. This sparked his lifelong desire to capture the excitement of world trade that comes to life in a port. Stobart would go on to study at the Derby College of Art and the Royal Academy in London, where he developed his skills in composition and perspective.
By the early 1960s, shipping companies weren’t just buying his paintings, they were commissioning his work and sponsoring his travel overseas. If you ever had the chance to speak with John, he would likely tell you his “life was a series of miracles.” One of the most notable of these miracles happened early on in his career… on a train ride from Toronto to New York City, Stobart unknowingly befriended Donald Holden, the editor of American Artist Magazine. That unlikely meeting would lead him to Kennedy Galleries, which would go on to host Stobart’s first solo exhibition in 1967.
In 1970, the Stobart family emigrated to the United States and settled in the coastal town of Darien, Connecticut. Later, while the family was living in the Washington, D.C. area, he established the Atlantic Gallery near his Georgetown studio. He continued to produce stunning works that captured the imagination of collectors and enthusiasts alike. His compositions often feature views of iconic locations such as Boston, New York, San Francisco, London, Cape Town, and many others; his paintings are not just works of art but also historical records of a bygone era.
Over the course of his career, Stobart received numerous awards and honors for his contributions to the art world; among them was his election to the prestigious National Academy of Design in New York and the Royal Society of Marine Artists in 1979, and the American Society of Marine Artists presented him with the Award of Excellence, the society’s highest honor. In 2008, he returned home to Derby, U.K., where he was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Letters from the University of Derby, which had subsumed the Derby College of Art years earlier.
In addition to his artistic achievements, Stobart was a generous philanthropist. He established the Stobart Foundation to support recently graduated in their transition to becoming professional artists. Stobart recognized, from personal experience, that this time is crucial in an artist’s development. His goal was to offer an environment of support and provide financial assistance at a time when the artist’s energies and resources are at their lowest point. Despite his overwhelming success, John remained humble and approachable, and was widely admired for his generosity.
John Stobart's legacy will live on through his paintings, which will continue to inspire artists and captivate audiences for generations to come, as well as through the works of the Stobart Foundation recipients.
Donations in Stobart’s memory may be made to The Stobart Foundation. https://stobartfoundation.org/
Burial will be private.