Jonathan Hague Exhibition Royal Leamington Spa..With A Little Help From My Friends..
28th November 2017
With A Little Help From My Friends
ArtsTrail Studios and Gallery re-opens with John Lennon’s good friend’s fiftieth anniversary exhibition
Leamington Spa’s pioneering ArtsTrail Studios and Gallery will re-open in its new home at The Old
Main Post Office on Monday 4 December at 7.30pm with a major exhibition by renowned local artist
Jonathan Hague. Exactly fifty years ago to the day Hague’s friend, John Lennon (with Paul
McCartney and Revolution Records), sponsored what turned out to be the artist’s last exhibition in his
lifetime at the Royal Institute Galleries in London. The 1967 show included Hague's iconic painting of
the fab four in their Sergeant Pepper costumes.
Hague and Lennon’s connection began in the late fifties when they met at Liverpool College of Art.
The ‘two Johns’ as they became known, grew to be close friends supporting each other throughout
their college days. Their friendship continued during the early days of the Beatles and the band’s
subsequent rise to fame.The individual band members became the subject of a number of Hague’s
paintings. Lennon’s kindness towards Hague manifested itself in a number of ways with him
sponsoring several one-man exhibitions and later by buying a house in Leamington for his artist
friend.
ArtsTrail’s new gallery is a fitting space for Hague’s very large paintings. The show will feature his
paintings of the Beatles and others from the original London exhibition. Hague’s personal collection of
band memorabilia including letters from John Lennon will also be on display.
Artist/curator Gerry Smith is delighted to have the opportunity to host this show. “Our ambition when
we moved ArtsTrail was to be able to host major local exhibitions as well as provide a larger space for
artists to display their work” he explains. It was a chance discussion with Jonathan Hague’s daughter
about the provenance of the paintings she wanted framing that intrigued Gerry to explore the history
of the artist. “Finding the local connection helped make the decision and with a little help of many
friends we have put this exhibition together in a very short space of time to host it on the same day as
the 1967 original show”.
Hague’s children are equally excited about the forthcoming exhibition. “It will be the first time we have
ever seen our dad’s pictures in a public exhibition” explained Josh Hague. “Dad lost interest in
painting so the pictures were just stored in his cellar at home – we were told to take any we fancied!”
The exhibition preview will open to
the public on Tuesday 5 December. Opening hours will be 11am to 6pm every day until Christmas
Eve, (closed Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day), then 11am to 6pm Monday to
Saturday until 7 January 2018 when the exhibition will close. More information about ArtsTrail, its
services, opening times and other events can be made by visiting the gallery in person during opening
hours 11am-6pm Monday to Saturday or by visiting the website: http://www.artstrail.co.uk
ArtsTrail Studios and Gallery re-opens with John Lennon’s good friend’s fiftieth anniversary exhibition
Leamington Spa’s pioneering ArtsTrail Studios and Gallery will re-open in its new home at The Old
Main Post Office on Monday 4 December at 7.30pm with a major exhibition by renowned local artist
Jonathan Hague. Exactly fifty years ago to the day Hague’s friend, John Lennon (with Paul
McCartney and Revolution Records), sponsored what turned out to be the artist’s last exhibition in his
lifetime at the Royal Institute Galleries in London. The 1967 show included Hague's iconic painting of
the fab four in their Sergeant Pepper costumes.
Hague and Lennon’s connection began in the late fifties when they met at Liverpool College of Art.
The ‘two Johns’ as they became known, grew to be close friends supporting each other throughout
their college days. Their friendship continued during the early days of the Beatles and the band’s
subsequent rise to fame.The individual band members became the subject of a number of Hague’s
paintings. Lennon’s kindness towards Hague manifested itself in a number of ways with him
sponsoring several one-man exhibitions and later by buying a house in Leamington for his artist
friend.
ArtsTrail’s new gallery is a fitting space for Hague’s very large paintings. The show will feature his
paintings of the Beatles and others from the original London exhibition. Hague’s personal collection of
band memorabilia including letters from John Lennon will also be on display.
Artist/curator Gerry Smith is delighted to have the opportunity to host this show. “Our ambition when
we moved ArtsTrail was to be able to host major local exhibitions as well as provide a larger space for
artists to display their work” he explains. It was a chance discussion with Jonathan Hague’s daughter
about the provenance of the paintings she wanted framing that intrigued Gerry to explore the history
of the artist. “Finding the local connection helped make the decision and with a little help of many
friends we have put this exhibition together in a very short space of time to host it on the same day as
the 1967 original show”.
Hague’s children are equally excited about the forthcoming exhibition. “It will be the first time we have
ever seen our dad’s pictures in a public exhibition” explained Josh Hague. “Dad lost interest in
painting so the pictures were just stored in his cellar at home – we were told to take any we fancied!”
The exhibition preview will open to
the public on Tuesday 5 December. Opening hours will be 11am to 6pm every day until Christmas
Eve, (closed Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day), then 11am to 6pm Monday to
Saturday until 7 January 2018 when the exhibition will close. More information about ArtsTrail, its
services, opening times and other events can be made by visiting the gallery in person during opening
hours 11am-6pm Monday to Saturday or by visiting the website: http://www.artstrail.co.uk