John Stobart

Stobart emigrated to Canada in 1957, where his paintings sold well to the various shipping companies on the Saint Lawrence River. In 1965 he made his first visit to the United States, hoping to impress some New York art galleries, and was offered a show at the Kennedy Galleries. The Wunderlich family, who owned the gallery, encouraged him to further develop his ideas for painting historic maritime scenes. With his original paintings becoming increasingly popular with private collectors, Stobart also began to publish prints of his work. In 1989 he established the Stobart Foundation, to encourage traditional artists through scholarships. As of 2015, Stobart lives in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

John Stobart (born 1929) is a British maritime artist known for his paintings of American harbour scenes during the Golden Age of Sail.

Stobart was born in Leicester in 1929; his mother died from a seizure as a complication of the birth. He was brought up in Allestree and Weston Underwood, Derbyshire, and was educated at Derby Grammar School. Stobart's adored brother, George, told him, late in life, that he, John, was "drawing ALL the time on any scrap of paper you could find, from the age of 6". Stobart struggled academically, but showed a talent for painting. Despite lacking the appropriate educational qualifications, he was able to enrol at Derby School of Art in 1946 as a result of the influence of his father, a prominent pharmacist in Derby. His successful art school career led to Stobart being offered a prestigious scholarship at the Royal Academy Schools in London in 1950. He spent five years at the Academy, interrupted by a period of National Service.