Musician and artist James Johnston founded the London-based alternative rock bandGallon Drunk in 1990 as frontman and main songwriter. The group have been active, both recording and touring, to the present, releasing eight studio albums, compilations, and one live album, most recent being 2014's acclaimed 'The Soul Of The Hour'. Johnston was a member of Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds from 2003 to 2008, having originally toured as a guest guitarist with the band in 1994 on the Lollapalooza tour. He has also recorded and toured with a wide variety of other musicians, including Lydia Lunch, French alternative rock group Ulan Bator, Barry Adamson, and as a member of legendary Krautrock band Faust, and recording and performing with PJ Harvey. Johnston has contributed scores to numerous film and television projects, the playThe Nest, working together with PJ Harvey, and most recently All About Evestage play, again with PJ Harvey. He has collaborated with Ken Russell and acted for Olivier Assayas in his award-winning film Clean. Johnston released a solo album, The Starless Room, in November 2016 which was produced by Johann Scheerer.
Painter
His turn to painting initially began with working small scale in hotel rooms on tour, subsequently becoming his primary focus as a daily studio practice. His work has been used on book covers, album artwork and in art publications. Johnson is a figurative painter. His paintings are both bold and loose. The often unsettling, darkly humorous, and totemic images are based between the everyday and the world of the imagination.
Solo shows
The Stash gallery, London. 2019.
Group shows
Linear - Gallery 64a. 2018. Extricate - Gallery 64a. 2018. A Letter in Mind - The Oxo Tower, London. 2018. Push The Boat Out - The Art Academy Walworth. 2018. Jo Mama's Alphabet Show - Studio One gallery. 2018. Jo Mama's Second Alphabet Show - A-side B-side gallery. 2018 You KnowMore Than I Know - The Art Academy, London. 2019 A Letter in Mind - The Oxo Tower, London. 2019.
Magazine and book appearances
Persona #8. France. 2019 Sargasso arts magazine. Germany. 2018 Epifanio 2018 edition. Estonia.Johnson is a figurative painter. Featured artist in Prospero Arts, The Economist. 2019. The Art of the Murder Ballad. Holland. 'Nadirs' - Tom Buron. 'Love is an ancient disease' - M.A. Littler..
