John Stobart

John Stobart (29 December 1929 – 2 March 2023) was a British maritime artist known for his paintings of American harbour scenes during the Golden Age of Sail.

Early life Stobart was born in Leicester on 29 December 1929; his mother died from a seizure as a complication of the birth. He was brought up in Allestree and Weston Underwood, Derbyshire, and was educated at Derby Grammar School. Stobart's adored brother, George, told him, late in life, that he, John, was "drawing ALL the time on any scrap of paper you could find, from the age of 6". Stobart struggled academically, but showed a talent for painting. Despite lacking the appropriate educational qualifications, he was able to enroll at Derby School of Art in 1946 as a result of the influence of his father, a prominent pharmacist in Derby. His successful art school career led to Stobart being offered a prestigious scholarship at the Royal Academy Schools in London in 1950. He spent five years at the academy, interrupted by a period of National Service.

Professional art career Despite growing up in landlocked Derbyshire, Stobart had a fascination with the sea that stemmed from childhood visits to his grandmother in Liverpool, where he observed the city's busy docks. Following his graduation, Stobart travelled to Africa by sea in order to visit his father who had emigrated to Bulawayo, Southern Rhodesia. The sketches he made of the twelve ports he visited on the journey inspired him to pursue maritime art as a speciality. He successfully approached shipping companies with the idea of painting new vessels from plans during their construction.

Death Stobart died on 2 March 2023, at the age of 93. He was survived by his wife and three children.