In the 1970s, John returned repeatedly to Duncton Hill painting the sweeping view across the Rother Valley towards  his Studio at Greenleaves  in Grafham. The works were painted on the spot, he would pull up in his Landrover and walk along a path, clearing a spot a little way down the hill from which to paint. On one occasion he was   spotted carrying a so called 'box of explosives' and wearing a visa to keep off the sun.  Tracker dogs and police descended on mass to find him peacefully at his easel.  ⁠

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 He became intimately connected to the scene varying his works from naturalistic views reflecting the changing weather to abstracted compositions composed of broad contrasting brushstrokes delineating the field patterns and shadows of high summer.  This work has remained in John's studio since it was first painted, and it is wonderful to be showing it just a few miles from where it was conceived. ⁠