The following information was submitted by the artist:

John Picking was born in Lancashire in 1939 and he showed an aptitude for painting at an early age.

After studies at Wigan School of Art, where he obtained the National Diploma in Design, Governors' Medal and Travelling Scholarship to Paris, he went to Edinburgh College of Art to study painting.

He won various awards there including the Sketch Club Prize and a major Andrew Grant Travelling Scholarship which allowed him to paint in Spain for a year.

After teaching at Wigan School of Art and studies leading to research work at London University, John Picking made his first journey to Italy in 1969 and then spent various periods dividing his time between teaching at Manchester Polytechnic and painting in Sicily. In 1980 he left Britain to live in Italy permanently and since that date he has been working as a full-time artist.

His achievements in painting and his relationship with Sicily were recognised in a documentary film entitled Il Nostro John Picking produced by Lancastria Television for ITV2.

His work inspired by Sicily obtained recognition when he was made honorary citizen of Militello Rosmarino. He later opened a second studio near the Lake Iseo, dividing his time painting between Sicily and Lombardy. In 2000 he set up studio in New York and spent a few months painting there. He exhibited with the Monique Goldstrom Gallery in Broadway.

His works can be seen in many public and private collections both in Italy and abroad.

Solo Shows:
Paperback Gallery, Edinbugh, 1961
ESU Gallery, Edinburgh, 1964
Berry Gilmore Gallery, Manchester 1967
New 57 Gallery, Edinburgh, 1967/70
Museum and Art Gallery, Salford, 1970
Colin Jellicoe Gallery, Manchester, 1972/74/76/78/81/83/84/87/89/2002
Mercury Gallery, London 1973/76/81
Scottish Gallery, Edinburgh, 1977/81
Arts Club, London, 1977
Galleria d'Arte Antares, Catania, 1981
Centro Arti Visivi, Capo D'Orlando, 1981
Arte Grafica Club, Catania, 1982
Artists Club, Liverpool, 1983
La Nuova Barcaccia, Palermo, 1984
Galleria La Gradiva, Roma, 1984
La Barcaccia, Napoli, 1984
Galleria L'Incontro, Fiuggi, 1985
Galleria Agatirio, Capo D'Orlando, 1988, 1999
Galleria Russo e Russo, Fiuggi, 1991/94
Palazzo degli Affari, Florence, 1992/94
Telemarket, Brescia, 1995
Brolo Castle, 2002
Galleria La Rocchetta, Pavia, 2002
Castello Gallego, Sant'Agata Militello, 2004

Monographs:
John Picking, R. Civello & F. Boni. 1991 120pp 92 col. illus. 31 b&w
A Painter's Diary John Picking. Introd. F. Boni. Interview with G. Pozzi. 1994 196pp 111 col. illus. 42 b&n
Picking Gian Piero Rabuffi, 2002 144pp 115 col. illus.
Fifty Years of Painting - John Picking Maria Spatola 2006 154pp 158 col. Illus.

Film:
Il Nostro John Picking 45min. documentary Lancastria Television per Channel Four 1982.

Murals:
Trappeto (Palermo), 1985
Barcellona (Messina), 1986/87
Militello Rosmarino (Messina), 1989
Castellana Sicula (Palermo), 1995
Caltavuturo (Palermo), 1999
Vignolo (Cuneo), 2005

Selected Group Shows:
Royal Scottish Academy, 1963-73
Society of Scottish Artists, 1964-67
Northern Young Contemporaries, Manchester, 1966
Arts Council touring Exhibition NYC's, 1967
Liverpool Academy, 1967/68
Glasgow Institute of Contemporary Arts, 1967
Colin Jellicoe Gallery, Manchester, 1967-2005
Piccadilly Gallery, London, 1971
Sheffield Open Exhibition, 1972
Mercury Gallery, London, 1972-81
New 57 Gallery Anniversary Exhibition,
Edinburgh Festival, 1972
Scottish Gallery, Edinburgh, 1973-83
Manchester Academy, 1973-1996
Royal Academy, London, 1974/75 Northern Images, Manchester, 1974
Galleria La Robinia, Palermo, 1977-79
Arte Club, Catania, 1981-85
Palazzo Communale, Acireale, 1982
Galleria Mercede, Roma, 1982
Galleria L'Incontro, Fiuggi, 1982-84
Arte/Presenze, Museo Civico, Gravina di Catania, 1984
La Barcaccia, Fiuggi, 1986-89
Mulli-Gallerie, Weisslingen, Zurich, 1984
Vitalità nell'Arte Contemporanea, Rome, 1986.
Incontro D'Arte, Chiesa di S. Francesco, Messina 1986
La Mistica nell'Arte odierna, Monreale, 1985
Galleria La Meridiana, Messina, 1985-89
Comune di Partinico, 1986
Artisti Messinesi, Chiesa dei Catalani/Galleria Palano, Messina, 1987.
Galleria D'Arte Moderna, Agatirio, Capo D'Orlando, 1986-2000
Centro La Sirena, Rome, 1987-89
Una Città per l'Arte, Capo d'Orlando,1987-90
L'Acquerello Italiano a Messina, 1990
Comune di Palermo, 1992
Arte Fiera, Bologna, 1991-94
Circuiti D'Acqua, Comune di Trapani, 1993
Mostra Nazionale "I Figurativi", Basilica di S. Lorenzo, Florenze, 1994
Bruton Street Gallery, London 1994-95
Prima Rassegna Internazionale D'Arte Contemporanea, Sant'Agata Militello, 1996
Telemarket, Fiuggi, Brescia, Bari, Milano, Roma, Bologna 1989-99
Prima Colletiva di Pittori Bresciani, Corte Franca, 1996
Galleria 'Agitirio', Capo D'Orlando, 1999
Galleria D'Arte 'Il Salotto', Milano, 1999-2005
Comune di Ventimiglia di Sicilia, 1999
Galleria Tronci, Cuneo 1998-2000
Bergamo, Comitato Ecologico, 2002
Città di Laives, Bolzano, 2004
Galleria Artesia, Catania, 2005