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Presentation: Framed
SN: 1242
Signed with intials, inscribed with title to reverse
Welsh slate, carved in high relief 7 x 5 1/2 in. (18 x 14 cm.)
Provenance: The artists personal collection until 1972; the artist's housekeeper; thereafter by descent
Send image Biography Enquire£1,750
Presentation: Framed
SN: 2877
Signed with monogram titled on a label to the reversed SCDA Annual Festival Award
Welsh slate in its original hinged oak presentation case
8 x 11 1/4ins. (20.2 x 28.4cms)
‘I keep on drawing and re-drawing until what I’ve produced simply asks to be carved’ (John McKenzie, Abroath Herald, 1 February 1963).
The remarkable work of John McKenzie has only recently come back to light. Despite exhibiting his slates at the Royal Scottish Academy Summer Exhibition, the Royal Glasgow Institute of Fine Arts, and in two solo exhibitions at the Public Library in his home town of Abroath, he had no interest in the commercial aspects of his work and sold no more than a handful of sculptures during his lifetime. Using Welsh slate, and working with engraver’s tools, he produced three to four reliefs a year, which amounted to less than a hundred in his entire career.
By day a charge-hand messman on HMS Condor (and later a railwayman), the reclusive McKenzie indulged his passion for carving by night and at the weekends. Producing in equal number scenes of contemporary life and scenes of antiquity, it is especially in the former that he found his most distinctive voice. His images, whether the carved wooden reliefs of the 1930s, or works in slate that date from the late 1930s, are rich in symbolism, which though often obscure is always engaging.
Liss Fine Art are currently preparing a catalogue of his work.
Send image Biography Enquire£1,900
Presentation: Framed
SN: 3601
Carved oak relief with colour applied, in an integral frame
13 x 8 1/2 in. (33 x 21.5 cm.)
‘I keep on drawing and re-drawing until what I’ve produced simply asks to be carved’ (John McKenzie, Abroath Herald, 1 February 1963).
The remarkable work of John McKenzie has only recently come back to light. Despite exhibiting his slates at the Royal Scottish Academy Summer Exhibition, the Royal Glasgow Institute of Fine Arts, and in two solo exhibitions at the Public Library in his home town of Abroath, he had no interest in the commercial aspects of his work and sold no more than a handful of sculptures during his lifetime. Using initially oak panels, in the 30's, and later Welsh slate, in the 1940's and working with engraver’s tools, he produced three to four reliefs a year, which amounted to less than a hundred in his entire career.
By day a charge-hand messman on HMS Condor (and later a railwayman), the reclusive McKenzie indulged his passion for carving by night and at the weekends. Producing in equal number scenes of contemporary life and scenes of antiquity, it is especially in the former that he found his most distinctive voice. His images are rich in symbolism, which though often obscure is always engaging.
Liss Fine Art are currently preparing a catalogue of his work.
Send image Biography Enquire£2,500
Presentation: Framed
SN: 3602
Carved oak relief with colour applied, in an integral frame
14 1/4 x 6 3/4 in. (36 x 17 cm.)
‘I keep on drawing and re-drawing until what I’ve produced simply asks to be carved’ (John McKenzie, Abroath Herald, 1 February 1963).
The remarkable work of John McKenzie has only recently come back to light. Despite exhibiting his slates at the Royal Scottish Academy Summer Exhibition, the Royal Glasgow Institute of Fine Arts, and in two solo exhibitions at the Public Library in his home town of Abroath, he had no interest in the commercial aspects of his work and sold no more than a handful of sculptures during his lifetime. Using initially oak panels, in the 30's, and later Welsh slate, in the 1940's, and working with engraver’s tools, he produced three to four reliefs a year, which amounted to less than a hundred in his entire career.
By day a charge-hand messman on HMS Condor (and later a railwayman), the reclusive McKenzie indulged his passion for carving by night and at the weekends. Producing in equal number scenes of contemporary life and scenes of antiquity, it is especially in the former that he found his most distinctive voice. His images are rich in symbolism, which though often obscure is always engaging.
Liss Fine Art are currently preparing a catalogue of his work.
Send image Biography
To be included in a
forthcoming exhibition
Presentation: Framed
SN: 537
Inscribed with title and signed with initials
Welsh slate, with patinated metal frame; 6 1/2 × 5 1/8 in. (16.5×13 cm.) irregular
Provenance: the artists estate
Send image BiographyTo be included in a
forthcoming exhibition
Presentation: Framed
SN: 548
Signed with initials
Polychrome carved wood, in the original oak frame; 15 × 9½ in. (38 × 24 cm.)
‘I keep on drawing and re-drawing until what I’ve produced simply asks to be carved’ (John McKenzie, Abroath Herald, 1 February 1963).
The remarkable work of John McKenzie has only recently come back to light. Despite exhibiting his slates at the Royal Scottish Academy Summer Exhibition, the Royal Glasgow Institute of Fine Arts, and in two solo exhibitions at the Public Library in his home town of Abroath, he had no interest in the commercial aspects of his work and sold no more than a handful of sculptures during his lifetime. Using Welsh slate, and working with engraver’s tools, he produced three to four reliefs a year, which amounted to less than a hundred in his entire career.
By day a charge-hand messman on HMS Condor (and later a railwayman), the reclusive McKenzie indulged his passion for carving by night and at the weekends. Producing in equal number scenes of contemporary life and scenes of antiquity, it is especially in the former that he found his most distinctive voice. His images, whether the carved wooden reliefs of the 1930s, or works in slate that date from the late 1930s, are rich in symbolism, which though often obscure is always engaging.
Liss Fine Art are currently preparing a catalogue of his work.
We are grateful to Paul Viney for assistance.
Send image BiographyTo be included in a
forthcoming exhibition
Presentation: Unframed
SN: 1244
Signed with intials
Welsh slate, carved in low relief 6 3/4 x 7 1/4 in. (17.5 x 18.5 cm.)
Provenance: The artist's personal collection until 1972; the artist's housekeeper; thereafter by descent
Send image BiographyTo be included in a
forthcoming exhibition
Presentation: Framed
SN: 1265
Signed with intials, inscribed with title on reverse
Welsh slate, asymmetrical, carved in high relief 7 1/2 x 5 in. (17.5 x 12.5 cm.)
Provenance: The artists personal collection until 1972; the artist's housekeeper; thereafter by descent
Send image BiographyTo be included in a
forthcoming exhibition
Presentation: Framed
SN: 2875
an asymmetrical slate, signed with initials
7 x 7 ins. (17.8 x 17.8 cm.)
Send image BiographyTo be included in a
forthcoming exhibition
Presentation: Framed
SN: 4621
Carved oak relief with colour applied, in an integral frame
‘I keep on drawing and re-drawing until what I’ve produced simply asks to be carved’ (John McKenzie, Abroath Herald, 1 February 1963).
The remarkable work of John McKenzie has only recently come back to light. Despite exhibiting his slates at the Royal Scottish Academy Summer Exhibition, the Royal Glasgow Institute of Fine Arts, and in two solo exhibitions at the Public Library in his home town of Abroath, he had no interest in the commercial aspects of his work and sold no more than a handful of sculptures during his lifetime. Using initially oak panels, in the 30's, and later Welsh slate, in the 1940's, and working with engraver’s tools, he produced three to four reliefs a year, which amounted to less than a hundred in his entire career.
By day a charge-hand messman on HMS Condor (and later a railwayman), the reclusive McKenzie indulged his passion for carving by night and at the weekends. Producing in equal number scenes of contemporary life and scenes of antiquity, it is especially in the former that he found his most distinctive voice. His images are rich in symbolism, which though often obscure is always engaging.
Liss Fine Art are currently preparing a catalogue of his work.
Send image Biography
Sold
Presentation: Framed
SN: 538
Welsh slates;
two slates of 11 1/2 ×3 1/2 in.(29×9 cm)
one slate of 11 3/4 x 5 in. (30 x 13 cm)
Provenance: the artists estate
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Presentation: Unframed
SN: 2611
Signed with initials, engraved with title on the reverse (and titled on a label to the reverse) Welsh slate, carved in high relief; 9Q × 6 in. (24 × 15 cm)
Provenance:Artist’s personal collection until 1972; artist’s housekeeper ; thereafter by descent.
McKenzie’s Reverie – an allegory of peace – shows an ordinary soldier exchanging his gun for a wreath during an Armistice Remembrance Ceremony.
McKenzie was a charge-hand mess-man on HMS Condor and indulged his passion for carving by night and at weekends, often producing scenes of contemporary life with an allegorical slant. UsingWelsh slate and working with engraver’s tools, he produced three to four reliefs a year , which amounted to less than a hundred in his entire career .
Send image BiographySold
Presentation: Unframed
SN: 4622
With two screw holes to the edge,
Signed with initials
25.5 x 20.5 cm (10 x 8 in.)
Send image BiographySold
Presentation: Unframed
SN: 4838Painted oak panel
13 1/4 x 9 1/4 in. (34 xx 23.5 cm).
By day a charge-hand messman on HMS Condor (and later a railwayman), the reclusive McKenzie indulged his passion for carving by night and at the weekends. Producing in equal number scenes of contemporary life and scenes of antiquity, it is especially in the former that he found his most distinctive voice. His images, whether the carved wooden reliefs of the 1930s, or works in slate that date from the late 1930s, are rich in symbolism, which though often obscure is always engaging.
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