INSIGHTJ
ohn Shields is a Fellow of the
Australian Institute of History
and Arts; a Life Member and Past
President of the Macquarie Towns Arts
Society; an Exhibiting Member of the
New South Wales Royal Art Society;
and a Life Member of the Baulkham
Hills Art Society.
He was born at Pennant Hills in
suburban Sydney. He now lives and
paints at Richmond on Sydney’s
northern outskirts.
Aside from receiving some tuition at
Wagga Wagga Teachers’ College (1953-
1954), and subsequently completing
an Arts Degree at the University of
New England, John has been largely
self-taught. Australian artists who haveinfluenced his work include Gruner,
Streeton, Heysen and Robert Johnson.
The main characteristics of this
artist’s work are ‘atmosphere and light’.
His main interest is endeavouring to
capture the varying light effects of
the Australian landscape ... the fog
mists of early mornings, the harsh
shimmering midday heat or the glorious