Born in Cambridge. Resident in Eye, Suffolk, for the last 36 years.
Education: Cambridge School of Art 1965-67; Camberwell School of Art, London (BA Fine Art 1971); OU Humanities BA degree course (1997-1999); University of East Anglia MA Culture & Communication (1999-2001); PhD research UEA 2001-2005; studied with Urasenke Foundation London (Japanese 'Tea Ceremony') 1978-1995.
Architectural modelmaker 1973-76 (notably for Burrell Museum, Glasgow, project of Barry Gasson); studio assistant to artist and typographic designer Gordon House 1976-82; English teacher in Tokyo, Japan (1977-78); lecturer at Cambridge School of Art 1979-1987; founded John Read Design 1984 to design and manufacture craft-made products (lighting, furniture) supplied to the Futon Co. and various craft galleries including Primavera Cambridge, and creation of Japanese-style garden shelter for Freddie Mercury, London, also design of garden and design and construction of rustic viewing platform for Japanese Shogyo-ji Buddhist temple London annexe, Acton, (1997).
Founded Prism Print International (with fellow Camberwell alumnus Master etcher Nigel Oxley) in 2012 to promote international social and artistic exchange through fine art printmaking and has been chair and curator for eleven years - 18 exhibitions in 9 countries with 48 members from 18 countries.
Principal solo exhibitions:
2023: In Search of Happiness - Paintings from the Pandemic, Pond Gallery, Snape Maltings, Suffolk
2019: B-Gallery, Tokyo
2018: John Read - Eclogues - Donichi Garoh, Tokyo, Japan
2017: John Read - Inscapes, Gallery Goho, Tokyo
2014, 2017: John Read - Inscapes, Yanagisawa Gallery, Tokyo
2013: John Read - Inscapes, 78 Derngate Gallery, Northampton
2012, 2013: Edmund Gallery, Bury St Edmunds
2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016: The Pond Gallery, Snape Maltings, Suffolk
2009: Tawny's Debenham
1984: Kings Street Gallery Bath
1980: Cambridge Gallery Soleil
Joint exhibitions:
2023: Prism Down, Down Arts Centre, NI
2022: 48 international print artists small print exhibition with Haruko Cho at the B-Gallery, Nishi-Ikebukuro, Tokyo (Invited); Prism@Atkinson Gallery, Somerset; Royal Academy Summer Exhibition, London (ANH)
2021: Prism Krákow - Conspectus. Centrum Gallery, International Centre for Graphic Arts. Part of the 2021 Krákow international Print Triennial, Poland. (Prism curator, catalogue designer and exhibitor).
2020: 2nd T-K-O International Miniprint Exhibition 2019-20, B - Gallery, Nishi-Ikebukuro, Tokyo, Art Zone Kaguraoka, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto and Gallery Irohani, Sakai-City, Osaka, Japan (joint, competition); Prism 12 - Stockholm. Nordens Ljus Gallery (and Swedish Printmakers’ Association Moriska Rummet gallery). (Curator, catalogue designer and exhibitor)
2019: 10th International Printmaking Biennial Exhibition - Cremona 2019, Cremona, Italy (Invited exhibitor); Prism at INOAC Namikidori Gallery, Ginza, Tokyo, Japan (joint and joint curator)
2018: Miniprint Kazanlak, Kazanlak, Bulgaria (Joint); Quay Gallery, Snape Maltings Suffolk (joint with Chris Soule, potter); Prism: Khoros - Clifford Chance Gallery, Canary Wharf, London (joint and Curator); B-Gallery at Parallax Art Fair, London (Joint); Graphic Editions - Prism with Belfast Print Workshop, Oriel Gallery, Antrim NI (joint and joint curator)
2017: Prism 8 - At the IXth International Engraving Biennial, Cremona, Italy (joint and Prism curator)
2016: Prism 6 - Clifford Chance Gallery, Canary Wharf, London (joint and curator); Small Print International - Touring Exhibition 6 UK Cities, Leicester Print Workshop (joint, competition); Prism 7 - The Spodki Gallery, Bialystok, Poland (Joint and joint curator); 1st T-K-O International Miniprint Exhibition 2016, B-Gallery, Nishi-Ikebukuro, Tokyo +Art Zone Kaguraoka, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto + Gallery Irohani, Sakai-City, Osaka - Japan (joint, competition)
2015: Prism World Printmaking - 4, Goto Gallery, Ginza, Tokyo, Japan (joint and curator); Distinct Impressions: Prism 5 London - Identity and the International Print Artist, The Embassy Tea Gallery, Bankside, London (Joint and curator); Impact 9, China Academy of Art, Hang Zhou, China (joint)
2014: John Read & Tricia Colyer - Peter Pears Gallery, Aldeburgh, Suffolk (joint); Prism World Printmaking - 3, Spazio Ostrakon, Milan, Italy (joint and curator)
2013: Cork Street Open, Cork Street Gallery, London (competition-joint); Prism World Printmaking - 1, Art Pavilion, Tower Hamlets, London (joint and curator); Prism World Printmaking - 2, Yanagisawa Gallery, Urawa, Japan (joint and curator)
1985: East Anglian Open, Fermoy Gallery, King’s Lynn, Norfolk
1984: Royal Festival Hall, London
1983: Royal Academy Summer Exhibition, Royal Academy, London; East Anglian Artists, Fermoy Gallery, King’s Lynn, Norfolk; Cambridgeshire Artists, Kettle’s Yard, Cambridge
1982: Prints from the Eastern Region, Hobson Gallery, Cambridge; Omni 1, Gallery Soleil, Cambridge
1981: Royal Festival Hall, London
