John Petts (artist) facts for kids

John Petts (born January 10, 1914 – died August 26, 1991) was a British artist. He was born in London, but many people think of him as a Welsh artist. John Petts was famous for his amazing engravings and beautiful stained glass artworks.

The Life of John Petts

Stained glass window designed by Petts at the 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama

Tree of life stained glass window at St Peter's Church, Carmarthen

John Petts was born in Hornsey, north London. He had a childhood illness that limited his early schooling. However, he loved art and took Saturday morning art classes.

In 1930, he became a full-time student at the Hornsey School of Art. Later, he won a scholarship to study at the Royal Academy Schools for two years. He also took evening classes to learn about printing.

Starting a Family and Art Career

In 1935, John Petts married another artist, Brenda Chamberlain. They moved to north Wales, near Llanllechid. They held art shows together and made greeting cards to earn money. They also taught art part-time in Bangor.

In 1937, John and Brenda bought a printing press. They started a company called Caseg Press. They made special bookplates, greeting cards, and prints of local scenes. John Petts also worked with a poet named Alun Lewis. They created illustrations for Welsh magazines.

World War II and New Beginnings

When World War II started, John Petts was a conscientious objector. This meant he chose not to fight in the war because of his beliefs. Instead, he worked on a farm away from Wales.

John and Brenda separated in 1943. After that, John joined the Royal Army Medical Corps. He served in Europe and the Middle East in 1944. Later, he moved to the Royal Army Educational Corps. He taught art at an army college in Palestine. He also worked as an editor for army publications in Cairo.

After the war, John Petts returned to Wales. He married his second wife, Kusha Petts. They tried to restart the Caseg Press. They also did work for another company called the Golden Cockerel Press.

John helped design the Lloyd George Museum in Llanystumdwy. For a while, the Caseg Press's printing press was kept there. Even with new equipment, the Caseg Press stopped making things in 1951.

Focus on Stained Glass

After the press closed, John Petts worked for the Welsh Committee of the Arts Council. In 1953, he became a member of the Society of Wood Engravers. He also joined the Royal Society of Painter-Etchers & Engravers in 1957.

In 1957, he became a lecturer at the Carmarthen School of Art. This job allowed him to spend more time creating stained glass art.

The Birmingham Church Window

In 1963, something terrible happened in Birmingham, Alabama, USA. A bomb exploded at the 16th Street Baptist Church. This was a racially motivated attack that killed four African-American girls.

John Petts was very upset by this news. He felt horrified as a father and an artist. He decided to design a special stained glass window for the church. The window featured a Black Jesus.

He worked with a newspaper, the Western Mail, to raise money. Thousands of people in Wales donated money for the window. The window was put in place and officially dedicated in 1965.

In 1970, John Petts gave his original designs for the window to the National Library of Wales. In 2013, the designs were shown there to mark 50 years since the bombing. In 2018, the church asked for help to protect the window from stormy weather.

Other Stained Glass Works

John Petts also created stained glass windows for other places. He made one for the Brighton and Hove Reform Synagogue in England. He also made windows for several churches and chapels in Wales. One famous one is the Tree of Life window at St Peter's Church, Carmarthen.

John Petts was a member of the Arts Council of Great Britain from 1958 to 1961. In 1966, he received a special award called a Churchill Fellowship. In his later years, John Petts lived and worked in Abergavenny, Wales.