The Royal Society of Portrait Painters 2021
This painting, Small Self, will be on show at the Royal Society of Portrait Painters exhibition 2021 at the Mall Galleries.
The Sequested Prize
Hero has been shortlisted for the Sequested Prize, a competition featuring self-portraits created during the first lockdown of 2020. An exhibition of 15 finalists will be held in 2022.
David Puttnam sharing his experience of having his portrait painted by Hero Johnson
As Covid travel restrictions prevented Lord Puttnam from attending the Royal Society of Portrait Painters exhibition in person, he recorded this video for the Mall Galleries to share online.
Portrait of Dame Lynne Brindley
Dame Lynne Brindley –
“Having a portrait painted was a great privilege and a completely new experience for me. However, it was a wonderful and thoroughly enjoyable process working with Hero, who took on board my wish that the portrait should capture a balance of approachability, inclusiveness and informal style, and give added confidence to our women students.
I was very fortunate to be able to come back to the College and see the portrait privately before it was mounted in Hall, which allowed me to admire in much greater depth the extraordinary detail and vibrancy of colour that Hero has achieved. It was of great importance to me, as the first female Master of Pembroke, that the artist commissioned for my portrait was a woman, and I hope that the result is enjoyed by many future generations of Pembrokians.”
Portrait of Sir Alan Parker CBE at The Chelsea Arts Club
Hero Johnson’s portrait of Sir Alan Parker will hang in the Billiard Room of the Chelsea Arts Club until the Summer of 2021, thanks to Lord Puttnam, Geoffrey Matthews, Lisa Moran and Green & Stone.
Paddington: The Man Behind the Bear. BBC 2
Hero Johnson’s portrait of Michael Bond features in BBC2’s documentary about Michael Bond ‘Paddington: The Man Behind the Bear’.
First shown on Boxing Day 2019 it had a repeat showing on Christmas Eve 2020 and will be available on BBC2 Iplayer for a further month.
First shown on Boxing Day 2019 it had a repeat showing on Christmas Eve 2020 and will be available on BBC2 Iplayer for a further month.
The ING Discerning Eye Exhibition 2020
The ING Discerning Eye Exhibition runs from the 19th November 2020 until the 31st December.
Like many shows this year, due to Coronavirus the exhbition will be online only.
The Society of Women Artists Exhibition 2020
The Society of Women Artists Annual Exhibition runs from the 22nd of September 2020 until the end of the year.
Due to Coronavirus the show will be online only.
The Royal Society of Portrait Painters 2020
The Royal Society of Portrait Painters Exhibition 2020 runs from the 16th of September to the 26th of September at the Mall Galleries.
Timed tickets must be booked in advance from the Mall Galleries website.
Portrait Workshop with Hero Johnson at Cass Art
Hero will be holding a portrait workshop ‘Exploring a Limited Palette’ at Cass Art on the 29th of March 2020.
For full details and to book a place please follow this link.
Artists and Illustrators Magazine Article
Hero Johnson’s painting of Margaret Hyde is featured in the March 2020 issue of Artists and Illustrators magazine.
The article focuses on The Contemporary British Portrait Painters and their upcoming exhibition ‘Perceptions’.
Bankside Gallery
The Heatherley Staff Show runs at the Bankside Gallery from the 24th to the 27th February 2020.
The Society of Women Artists 2019
Hero Johnson’s painting ‘Reflection’ has been selected for the Society of Women Artists Annual Exhibition 2019.
The Society of Women Artists Annual Exhibition
The Mall Galleries, London
25th September – 29th September
The Trinity Buoy Wharf Drawing Prize 2019
Hero Johnson’s pastel drawing ‘Sam in a Pink Shirt’ has been selected for the Trinity Buoy Wharf Drawing Prize 2019.
Formerly the Jerwood Drawing Prize, the exhibition opens in London before touring.
Salisbury Museum from 12th October 2019 until the 11th of January 2020.
Trinity Buoy Wharf from 18th of January until the 2nd of February 2020.
The Gallery at De Montfort University from 21 February until the 18th of April 2020.
The Contemporary British Portrait Painters
Hero is delighted to have been made a member of The Contemporary British Portrait Painters.
The Lynn Painter Stainers Prize Exhibition 2019
Hero Johnson’s portrait of Margaret Hyde will be exhibited at the Lynn Painter Stainers Prize Exhibition at the Mall Galleries, 5th March – 17th March 2019.
Photographs by Aliona Adrianova
Photographs in the studio by Aliona Adrianova.
The Elizabeth Greenshields Foundation Grant
Hero Johnson is enormously grateful to the Elizabeth Greenshields Foundation for the award of a grant.
The Elizabeth Greenshields Foundation grant is one of the most prestigious grants available to emerging figurative artists, as well as one of the most substantial. It is one of the longest standing, with an illustrious history of recipients spanning more than half a century. It is also unique in its scope, in that it is available to students and artists around the world
Empowered by Art – University Women’s Club
‘Empowered by Art’- Portraits of Women by Women
An exhibition of paintings and photographs by Hero Johnson, Miriam Escofet, Anastasia Pollard and Aliona Adrianova. Curated by Jemima Lovatt.
On display at the University Women’s Club 19th May 2018.
The portraits by Hero Johnson included those of Barbara Hosking CBE, Anna-Louise Felstead and Paulina Pluta.
The Royal Society of Portrait Painters Exhibition 2018
Hero Johnson and Sir Alan Parker at the Royal Society of Portrait Painters Private View, 9th of May 2018.
Photographs by Alex Cotteril for the Mall Galleries.
Sir Alan Parker’s Portrait in the Sunday Telegraph
Hero Johnson’s portrait of Sir Alan Parker on page 10 of the Sunday Telegraph, 6th May 2018.
The portrait will be part of the Royal Society of Portrait Painters annual exhibition at the Mall Galleries from the 10th to the 25th of May.
A Portrait of Heatherleys
‘A Portrait of Heatherleys’ – a collection of portrait photographs of the Heatherley staff by Aliona Adrianova taken over the Autumn Term 2017 and Spring Term 2018. The exhibition, including this photo of Hero Johnson, will be on permanent display at the school.
Interview with Hero Johnson in Artists and Illustrators Magazine
A feature on Hero Johnson in the March 2018 issue of Artists and Illustrators Magazine.
Barbara Hosking – Book Launch ‘Exceeding My Brief’
Barbara Hosking’s autobiography ‘Exceeding My Brief – Memoirs of a Disobedient Civil Servant’ was launched at the Reform Club last month.
The back cover features Hero Johnson’s portrait of Hosking.
The book is available through Bite Back publishing:
https://www.bitebackpublishing.com/books/exceeding-my-brief
And is reviewed by the New Statesman here:
https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk/2017/11/i-didn-t-know-what-i-was-barbara-hosking-working-downing-street-and-coming-out
The BP Portrait Award – Scottish National Portrait Gallery
The BP Portrait Award 2017 will be showing at the Scottish National Portrait Gallery from the 16th of December 2017 to the 11th of March 2018.
Admission free.
The Scottish National Portrait Gallery
1 Queen St
Edinburgh
EH2 1JD
Open daily 10am-5pm
Interview with Cass Art
I recently gave a short interview to Cass Art to support the ‘Face to Face; works by BP Portrait Award artists’ exhibition at their flagship Islington store.
Please click on the link below to read it and for further details of the group show:
https://www.cassart.co.uk/blog/bp_portrait_award_2017_artist_interviews_part_2.htm
The Space
66-67 Colebrooke Row
London N1 8AB
Face to Face 2017 – Works by BP Portrait Award Artists
23 AUGUST – 10 SEPTEMBER 2017
This exhibition brings together the works of artists exhibiting in the BP Portrait Award 2017 at the National Portrait Gallery, London. An insight into their practice beyond the Award, this show celebrates portraiture and figurative painting in its many forms.
The Cass Art Space, 66-67 Colebrooke Row, Islington N1 8AB
23 August – 10 September 2017
Admission is free
Opening times:
Private View Thursday 31 August 6pm-8pm
Monday – Wednesday 10am- 7pm
Thursdays 10am-8pm
Friday – Saturday 10am-7pm
Sundays 12am-6pm
Please note, on occasion the space may be closed temporarily for art workshops and classes.
Daphne Todd OBE Interview
Q: Are there other contemporary painters you admire?
Daphne Todd: Most of my original living heroes, such as William Coldstream, Francis Bacon, Patrick George and Euan Uglow are now dead. Paula Rego is, of course, very good indeed. I cannot think of anyone to touch her. Saied Dai, Antony Williams, Hero Johnson and Ben Sullivan are younger artists who I think have exceptional talent.
Q: What’s the most important lesson you have learned?
Daphne Todd: To just keep on. There will be ups and downs, rejections and accolades. I have known artists invited to be judges because of their eminence fail to have work accepted when they later submit to the same competition. They keep on. Sadly I have also known good, even excellent, artists give up at the first setback, harbour a grudge and avoid risk of failure, denying themselves the opportunity of success. Luck plays a huge part. If you paint for your satisfaction, you have the joy of doing it and solving problems.
Excerpt from Artists & Illustrators magazine Summer 2017. Interview by Sally Hales.
Michael Bond CBE
In loving memory of Michael Bond.
January 1926 – June 2017.
I loved Michael’s books as a child and it was a privilege to know and paint this wonderful man as an adult.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BV4izwsn1Cy/
Hilary Delamere, Hero Johnson, Michael Bond, Sue Bond and Karen Jankel.
‘The Art of Reading’ Waterstones Gower St London.
November 2016.
The Royal Society of Portrait Painters Private View 2017
Some photographs from the Royal Society of Portrait Painters Exhibition Private View, 3rd May 2017.
Taken by Alex Cotterill, Liberty Rowley, Daniel Shadbolt, Guy Bell and Katherine Tyrrell.
Exhibited portraits are of Michael Bond CBE and Paulina Pluta.
BP Portrait Award 2017
National Portrait Gallery, London
22 June – 24 September
Showing ‘Tabitha Moses with Gilda. Liverpool’
The New English Art Club Annual Exhibition 2017
Mall Galleries
16 June – 25 June
Showing a selection of drawings created during the NEAC Drawing Scholarship Year 2016-2017.
The Royal Society of Portrait Painters Annual Exhibition 2017
Mall Galleries
4th May – 19th May
Showing 2 recent paintings.