John Hill is a self-taught artist who enjoys working in several media including pencil, watercolor, acrylic and oil.  He has experienced first hand many of the subjects he paints, and has photographed, researched and studied the lifestyle of the American Cowboy, both past and present.  His sensitivity to, and understanding of, this rapidly disappearing way of life is reflected in his paintings of roundups, cattle drives, rodeos, lawmen and the life of the working cowboy.

John paints scenes of common events which occurred in the early history of the American West and are seldom seen today.  He captures the passage of time with an affinity for detail, realism and color, depicting scenes from the frontier days to the present.

His paintings of stagecoaches, lawmen and cowboys at work serve as reliable documents that recall a time of hardship as the western frontier was tamed by people of determination, faith and inner strength.  This theme, and the genre of cowboy and western art, has become an important focus for historical study.

Born in Sulphur Springs, TX, John lived there through his early teens.  He moved to Avondale, AZ  in 1953 where he graduated from Tolleson High School in 1955.  John made a career with US West until he retired in 1986.  He appeared in  a nationally televised commercial for Qwest in 2002 along with his son, who has made a career with the phone company, and his brother who retired from AT&T.  He is a member of the Telephone Pioneers of America and the Voice of Many Feathers, both Qwest service organizations.

He has won many awards in juried shows over the years for his artwork and was recognized in 2003 by the Scottsdale, Arizona Jaycees when they asked him to do the art that appeared on all printed materials for the 50th Anniversary of the Parada del Sol Rodeo Festival.  The original oil is shown in the gallery.

His home-studio is in Phoenix, Arizona.

John W. Hill © 2003