John Cornwell is a fifth generation Australian, born (1930) and brought up in Sydney. He is a modern traditional painter in oil, of mostly rural subjects, and a sculptor. His work has been reproduced as prints and decorative plates. Bradford Exchange have issued three series of extremely popular plates: Our Mighty Clydesdales, Journey Through the Country, and Waltzing Matilda. Two new prints, Bringing in the Station Stores, and Crossing the Forest Ford were published recently by John Cornwell Studios.

When he finished school, John took up a scholarship at the National Art School, East Sydney, after which he set up a commercial design and screen printing business. In 1970, John sold the business and became a full time artist. He has had 26 one-man exhibitions. John became particularly well known for his realist paintings of working horses in rural Australian landscape, and for character studies of country personalities. He researches material for these with extensive travel throughout Australia, including long rides, sometimes using packhorses. He has made overseas study tours to Europe (5) and the USA (1). He was a guest of the Omani Society of Fine Arts for the Global Art Exhibition at the year 2000 Muscat Festival, where he was the sole representative of the Australian continent.

A noted Australian artist, John is also an accomplished sculptor. His work includes Flinders' cat Trim bronze New South Wales State Public Library (Sydney 1996); and bronze bas-reliefs of an Infantryman and Land Army girl, for the Memorial Arch in Kiama Rotary Park, for "Australia Remembers," 1996, placed near his bronze bas-relief, The Pioneers, done in 1988.

Popular subjects include Australiana, horsemen, Clydesdales, sheep, cattle, historical reconstructions and marine paintings.