Rob & John
A Bit About John
John Tierney is an oil painter whose work is inseparable from the landscape, spirit, and quiet mystery of the Holy Island of Lindisfarne.
His journey as an artist began unexpectedly in 2001, when he made a simple comment, “I would love to be able to paint,” to his close friend Rob Gunnell while the two were cycling together in Sutton Park, Birmingham. This led to a single, life-changing painting lesson with him; he had not picked up a paintbrush since primary school, and this became a sliding-door moment. It also coincided with a trip to the Holy Island of Lindisfarne, which unleashed a dormant force. He was inspired by some great purpose and an overwhelming pull to paint the place John calls his “little corner of heaven”. What followed was a fantastic journey, years of intuitive, soul-led work inspired by the island’s light, silence, and spiritual presence.
His inspiration comes in many guises with amazing coincidences & spiritual experiences. He calls this "playing with the angels," and he paints from the soul. His best paintings usually come without thought, and his hands take over from the thinking process. He loves to work in flow state, and, as he says, “the quicker I paint, the better the painting.”
Impressions of Holy Island gallery
Following two successful exhibitions of his work inspired by the island, John decided to establish a permanent home for his paintings. Together with his brother Jim, he opened the Impressions of Holy Island gallery on Lindisfarne itself.
Over the years, the gallery became a much-loved and widely visited space, welcoming visitors from across the UK and beyond, and placing John’s artwork into private collections around the world. Its reputation grew steadily, attracting both returning collectors and notable visitors.
Although the physical gallery has now closed due to retirement, this website has taken its place as a spiritual home for John’s work, a space where the paintings continue to live, breathe, and be discovered. Here, the spirit of Holy Island remains present, allowing collectors and visitors from around the world to connect with the artwork in much the same way they once did within the gallery walls.
John’s hour on the Fourth Plinth, Trafalgar square
Fourth Plinth Commission, Trafalgar Square, London, England 6 July–14 October 2009
Antony Gormley’s proposal, One & Other, was for the Fourth Plinth to be occupied for 100 consecutive days, 24 hours a day, by members of the public who would volunteer to stand on it for an hour at a time. 2,400 people would be able to participate.
