JOHN & JILL HUTCHINGS

John was born on the 6th November 1928 in Surbiton, Surrey. After school and 2 years serving in the Royal Artillery John went to St. Peters College in Oxford to study Philosophy, Politics & Economics. Following his education John trained as an accountant in London.

Jill was born on the 8th June 1937 in Cardiff, Wales. She trained as a nurse at the Middlesex Hospital, London. In 1957 Jill met John on a train in Spain, they were subsequently married in 1959. They are proud parents to 3 daughters and have 10 grandchildren.

During the 60's John joined the Curwen Press as a Financial Adviser, later becoming the Chairman. At that time the Curwen Press included the Curwen Gallery and Print Studio. By the early 80's the Curwen Press was being taken over by a larger company and foreseeing the closure of the Gallery and Print Studio, John and Jill purchased both companies.

In 1978 Stephen Reiss, also of Curwen, together with John made a proposal to Sir Hugh Casson, then President of The Royal Academy, to form a new company to concentrate on providing art for business. The company was formed on a 50/50 basis by the RA and Curwen, and was to be housed in the Upstairs Gallery at the RA with John as Managing Director. It was in fact the first business art consultancy in London.

During 1987, when the Sackler Galleries were built in the RA, BAG became an independent company and relocated to 34 Windmill Street, establishing The New Academy Gallery as it's permanent home. This move brought BAG into the same street as the Curwen Gallery, aiding the working relationship between the companies. Jill had been combining her career in nursing with her interests in the Curwen & BAG for many years, but in 1987 she left nursing to work full-time as a director for the company.

At the beginning of 2005 the Curwen Gallery, Business Art Galleries and The New Academy were all brought under one roof at No. 34. To celebrate this episode in the company's story, and to incorporate the history behind both companies, a new logo was designed by Brendan Hansbro. Inspired by an original Curwen logo by Eric Gill, the two rearing unicorns symbolise the joining together of the two establishments.

Sadly John Hutchings died on the 3rd February 2009. Jill remains as the company Director. John was a wonderful man who will greatly missed.

Email: jill@curwengallery.com

Note: We have recently been told more about the history of 34 Windmill Street by someone who once worked here. You may notice when you visit the gallery there are a large number of plug sockets along one wall. This is left over from record booths when the building was an historic record store and office. During this time it was the main fan base for The Kinks, Led Zeppelin, The Who, Slade and Ozzy Osbourne.