“My name is John Jennings. I am a practising painter, I live in south west London with my wife and art has been my life since the age of fifteen, although I have remained on the margins of the art world.

I scored a mental health double whammy, having had a sister with paranoid schizophrenia, during my childhood and teenage years, and then myself being diagnosed with manic depressive disorder in my early thirties. I have been in continuous treatment since. My experiences of living with mental health in the home, as a child, and, later, in the community have been painful and isolating.

I joined Outside In in 2012 which was a lifeline. They provided me with an online gallery, and opportunities to show some of my work in public through Bobby Baker’s Daily Life Ltd light box shows in 2014 and 2016. I have also taken part in several `In Practise’ slide shows through the RA Access programme. I also became an art workshop facilitator with Outside In and have done workshops in Chichester and London.

I don’t identify myself as an `outsider artist’, I did a fine art degree in my late thirties, but I am an `outsider’ who is obsessively driven to paint.

I am a colourist and I love paint. For me, colour and paint goes beyond words in expressing life. I hope you enjoy my paintings, the ones shown here represent some current work from 2013 to the present.”

www.outsidein.org.uk/john-jennings

Twelve ©John Jennings 2016 Acrylic on paper. 33.7 X 29.5cm. (13.25 X 11.6in)

Snake in the Grass ©John Jennings 2016 Acrylic on paper. 33.7 X 29.5cm. (13.25 X 11.6in)

Blue Enters ©John Jennings Gouache and pencil on paper. 29.5 X 21cms.

Turbine ©John Jennings 2014 Acrylic on canvas 20 X 50cms.

Trickster ©John Jennings 2016 Acrylic on paper. 13 X 20cm. (5.1 X 7.8in)

Saddo ©John Jennings 2016 Arylic on paper 33.7 X 29.5cm. (13.25 X 11.6in)

Hot Rod, ©John Jennings 2016 Acrylic on paper. 29cm dia. (11.4in dia).

Untitled ©John Jennings 2016 Gouache on paper. 17cm diameter. (6.6in diameter).

Pinks In ©John Jennings 2016 Acrylic on paper. 29cm dia. (11.4in dia).

Round One ©John Jennings 2016 Acrylic on paper. 29cm dia. (11.4in dia).

Ghost in the Works ©John Jennings 2016 Acrylic on paper. 29cm dia. (11.4in dia).

Orange ©John Jennings 2016 Acrylic on paper 20 X 20cm. (8 X 8in)

Residew of Calm ©John Jennings 2013 Gouache and pencil on paper. 50.8 X 40.6cms

Pump ©John Jennings 2016 Acrylic on canvas. 30.5 X 23cm (12 X 9in)

Pink Gin ©John Jennings 2016 Acrylic and gouache on paper. 35 X 29.8cm. (13.75 X 11.75in).

Ode to a Jet Engine ©John Jennings 2013 Gouache on paper. 40.5 X 30.5cms. Gift to Steve Murison in exchange for, You Were My Burning Village. 2013.

Occasional Cat No 3 ©John Jennings 2013 Mixed Media on paper. 59 X 42cms

Moon Drive ©John Jennings 2014 Acrylic on canvas. 100 X 50cms

Majic Mushroom ©John Jennings 2013 Gouache on paper. 50.8 X 40.6cms

Look, America ©John Jennings 2014

In the Box ©John Jennings 2016 Acrylic on canvas board. 20 X 20cm (8 X 8in)

Head 4 ©John Jennings 2014 Watercolour on paper 15 X 20cms

Head 3 ©John Jennings 2014 Wattercolour onpaper 15 X 20cms

Head 2 ©John Jennings 2014 Watercolour onpaper 15 X 20cms

Fourheads ©John Jennings 2015 Acrylic on canvas. 100 X 50cms

Finlay Blue ©John Jennings 2013 Mixed Medea on paper. 52.5 X 32cms

Engine of the Sunflower John Jennings 2015 Pencil Watercolour and gouache on paper. 30 X 21cm

Clockwork John Jennings 2014 Acrylic on canvas. 60 X 50cms

Clockwork II John Jennings 2016 Acrylic on canvas. 56 X 46cm. (22 X 18in)

Clank John Jennings 2016 Acrylic on paper. 29cm dia. (11.4in dia).

Childish John Jennings 2014 Acrylic on canvas. 71 X 91.5cms. Sold to A Ghose. 10.12.15. £220.00

Chainsaw Chocolate ©John Jennings 2016 Gouache and pencil on paper. 29.5 X 21cms.

Checked ©John Jennings 2016 Gouache on paper. 17cm diameter. (6.6in diameter).

Brown with Pink Spots ©John Jennings 2016 Acrylic on paper. 29cm dia. (11.4in dia).

Blue Stream ©John Jennings 2016 Acrylic on paper. 29cm dia. (11.4in dia).

Blue Flower ©John Jennings 2016 Acrylic on canvas. 30.5 X 23cm (12 X 9in)