John Langton obituary

"John was born and lived for most of his life in York. His father, Albert Langton, was a railway engineer and city councillor, his mother, Annie (nee Cuthbert), a housewife. He was educated at Nunthorpe grammar school and by his father, who encouraged his son's interest in reading and politics. Aged 16, he entered York School of Art, and when its headteacher Dudley Holland left to become director of Guildford School of Art, John followed him."

"There he met David Lloyd Jones, who became an outstanding ceramicist and collaborated with John on commissions, including some for the newly established University of York in 1963. In time they formed half of the group of artists known as the York Four, the other two being Russell Platt and Reg Williams. When John undertook national service with the Green Howards, part of his time was spent in Germany."

John Langton lived most of his life in York and trained at York School of Art before following his headteacher to Guildford School of Art. He collaborated with David Lloyd Jones on commissions and formed part of the group known as the York Four. National service placed him partly in Germany, fostering a lifelong fascination with German history, people and culture that underpinned significant exhibitions there. He received public commissions from Durham, Sussex and York, and late-career flower paintings produced after illness featured a notable tenderness of light and sold out at Spelman's bookshop in York.

Read at www.theguardian.com