John Lyons (poet) facts for kids

John Lyons (born October 1933) is a talented artist, poet, and teacher from Trinidad. He is known for his vibrant paintings and inspiring poetry. John has also worked as a theatre designer and helped set up art exhibitions. He even writes about art for different art shows.

His artwork is displayed in famous places like the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. People say his poems beautifully describe the Caribbean landscape and its lively people. His work also adds to the unique voice of West Indian artists living in Britain.

About John Lyons' Life

John Lyons was born in Port of Spain, Trinidad. When he was nine, his mother passed away. He and his three brothers and sisters then went to live with their grandmother in the countryside of Tobago. In 1948, he moved back to Trinidad to live with his father and stepmother.

Later, John moved to London, England. From 1959 to 1964, he studied at Goldsmiths' College, School of Art. He earned a special diploma in design there. After that, he went to the University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne (1965–65) to get a diploma to teach art. While studying, he worked many part-time jobs to support himself. He was a factory cleaner, a waiter, a postman, and even a hospital porter.

John Lyons as a Teacher

John's first teaching job was at a school in South Shields. In 1967, he moved to Manchester. There, he taught in secondary schools for nine years. After that, he became an Art and Design Lecturer at South Trafford College.

He taught there for 17 years, all while continuing to paint and write. From 1991 to 1998, he also taught creative writing part-time at the Bolton Institute. He has also been a tutor for the Arvon Foundation many times since 1991, helping others with their writing.

John Lyons' Painting Style

John Lyons has been showing his paintings since the 1960s. He says that when he creates a picture, he has a fun "dialogue" with his work. He brings together lines, shapes, textures, and bright colours. His art often tells stories based on Caribbean folklore and myths.

He took part in a recent exhibition called No Colour Bar: Black British Art in Action 1960–1990. This show was at the Guildhall Art Gallery from 2015 to 2016. It was inspired by the lives of activists Eric and Jessica Huntley from Guyana. They started a publishing company called Bogle-L'Ouverture.

John Lyons' Writing and Books

John Lyons' first book, Lure of the Cascadura, came out in 1989. Since then, his writing has appeared in many books, including collections for children. He has also published several full collections of his own poetry.

His recent book for younger readers, Dancing in the Rain (2015), was illustrated by John himself. It was nominated for the 2016 Centre for Literacy in Primary Poetry Award (CliPPA). This is a special award just for published poetry for children. Judges called the book "a breath of fresh air." The collection is inspired by John's childhood in Trinidad and Tobago. It draws ideas from the traditions of Carnival and calypso music.

John is also a great cook! He combined recipes, poems, and illustrations in his book Cook-up in a Trini Kitchen (2009). This book is like a collection of short stories, full of fun facts and colourful pictures. John says the book is an "explosion" of his three favourite things: art, poetry, and food.

As a poet, John has read his work at many festivals in the UK and other countries. He has also been on radio and television shows. He has taken part in many workshops and conferences around the world. Over the years, he has received many awards, including the Windrush Arts Achiever Award in 2003.

He has also written essays for art exhibition catalogues. One of his well-known essays is "Denzil Forrester's Art in Context." He wrote it for the 1990–91 Denzil Forrester exhibition called Dub Transition: A Decade of Paintings 1980 - 1990.

John Lyons' Community Work

John Lyons helped start a community arts charity called Hourglass Educational Arts Development Services (HEADS). He co-founded it with writer Jean Rees, who is his wife. From 2000 to 2010, he was a trustee for HEADS. He also ran weekly art classes at the Hourglass Studio Gallery as the resident artist.

Selected Art Exhibitions

Here are some of the places where John Lyons' art has been shown:

Solo Exhibitions (His Own Work)

• 1990: Salford Museum and Art Gallery.
• 1991: Castle Museum, Nottingham.
• 1992–94: Behind The Carnival; a big traveling exhibition, Huddersfield Art Gallery.
• 1994: Galway Arts Centre, Republic of Ireland.
• 1997: Mythopoeia, a major traveling exhibition from Wrexham Art Centre.
• 1998: Daydreaming, Lawrence Batley Gallery, West Bretton.
• 1999: Ovation, Rochdale Art Gallery.
• 2000: Theatr Ardudwy, Harlech
• 2002: In the Terrain of the Psyche, Hourglass Studio Gallery, Hebden Bridge.
• 2005: 3Cups Gallery, Ely, Cambridgeshire.
• 2006: Diorama Art Centre Gallery, London.
• 2009: Chimera, Needhams Restaurant and Art Gallery.
• 2010: Selected Mini Retrospective from 1964 to 1984, Williams Art Cambridge.
• 2013: Mythlore, The Apex Gallery, Bury St Edmunds.
• 2015: John Lyons, Hot Numbers, Cambridge.
• 2024: John Lyons: Carnivalesque, The Whitworth, Manchester.

Mixed / Group Exhibitions (With Other Artists)

• 1979: Galerie du Musee des Duncans, Paris.
• 1982: Edison Galerie, The Hague, Netherlands.
• 1982: The Hayward Annual, Southbank Centre, London.
• 1986: Caribbean Expressions in Britain, Leicester Art Gallery.
• 1988: Black Art: Plotting The Course. An exhibition supported by the Arts Council.
• 1989: Jouvert Print Exhibition. The Paddington Print Project, a major traveling exhibition.
• 1990: Let The Canvas Come To Life With Dark Faces, an exhibition supported by the Arts Council.
• 1995: Vibrant Energies, (with Tang Lin), Chinese Art Centre. Manchester
• 1995: Caribbean Connections, Islington Art Factory, London.
• 1998: Evocation: Hourglass Studio Gallery.
• 2007: Upper Gallery, Home Affairs, Cambridge Open Studios Artists.
• 2009: Hills Road Exhibition, Cambridge.
• 2009: Ovenden Contemporary Art Group Exhibition, The Old Palace, Ely.
• 2009: Ever After The Honey, Clare Hall, Cambridge University.
• 2010: Art To Die For, CAM at Williams Art Cambridge.
• 2013: Blue Contemporary, Cambridge City Art Fair.
• 2010: Atelier Contemporary, Cambridge City Art Fair.
• 2015: Spirit of Carnival, Upper Gallery, The Plough, Shepreth.
• 2015: No Colour Bar: Black British Art in Action 1960–1990, Guildhall Art Gallery, City of London.

Awards and Special Recognitions

John Lyons has received many awards for his poetry and art:

• 1987: Highly commended, Peterloo Poets Poetry Competition for "Skin, Skin Is Me, Yuh Na Know Meh"
• 1987: Commended, National Poetry Competition for "Ham Bone and Tidal Waves"
• 1987: Peterloo Poets Afro-Caribbean, Asian Poetry Prize
• 1987: Second prize, Cultureword Poetry Competition
• 1988: Equal second prize (shared with Jackie Kay), Peterloo Afro-Caribbean, Asian Poetry Prize
• 1991: Arts Council Literary Award (for Lure of the Cascadura)
• 1991: Peterloo Poets Afro-Caribbean, Asian Poetry Prize
• 2003: Windrush Arts Achiever Award
• 2016: Dancing in the Rain shortlisted for CLPE children's poetry award (CliPPA)

Illustrations in Books

• John Lyons Carnivalesque (2024), The Whitworth, ISBN: 978-0-903261-82-1