Ken Horton’s constructivist painting merges abstract with figurative painting. The artist, whose contemporaries have captured the imagination of the city for half a century, makes the most of this solo exhibition as an opportunity to embrace the benefits of a lifetime of painting on the soul.
For me though, and I imagine for many others who will see this show, this exhibition is about remaining in touch with those early inspirations in the classroom.
Ken recalls his relationship with his grammar school teacher, William Walters, and in impact that had on him at an early age. The route that pushed him towards, working at the Liverpool College of Art under Arthur Ballard, in part coerced by his friend and contemporary Stuart Sutcliffe.
All artists of note in their own right, and all part of the journey of this particular painter into the art world.
Ken, having honed his craft, chose to undertaken a life in that same role, inspiring others into a lifetime of creativity as a high school art teacher.
For his students, he will have been a monumental influence. For himself, it meant a lifetime exploring the intricacies of his craft.
Robert Young was the teacher who first taught me embrace painting, but it was Paul Scragg, my godfather who ignited my love of drawing.
Their influence led to a trail of tutors (Barbara Jones, Tony O’Connell, Joanna Leah Geldard to name a few – each influencing part of my purpose in the art world as well as the real world.
And the exhibition, introduced by one of my partner’s most influential and supportive teachers, Tony Smith, rounds this exhibition off well on a personal level.
I’m in awe of Ken Horton, who despite a long career that includes a run of exhibitions in June Furlong’s Merseyside Artist’s series, hosted in venues across the city, including St George’s Hall and the Neptune Theatre, is not an artist I’ve encountered until now. His painting is richly textured, and considerately composed, and what stands out above everything else is that this is a lifetime of painting spent to realise one series.
Every work here, some over 40 years old, some painted this year, has a relationship to the next, but they also show progression, moments of obsession with certain scales and motifs.
Ken Horton epitomises the role of the art teacher,. I sincerely hope that the students of this university (and a few of you reading this) take the time to reflect on these works in their own right, and to recall the power of their own early influences on their lives.
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Ken Horton’s work in on show at The Cornerstone Building (Liverpool Hope Creative Campus) until 18th December 2025
Words, Patrick Kirk-Smith
