Pompey John Portrait

There are places that feel like shops, and then there are places that feel like stories.

When I stepped into the Petersfield Bookshop, it felt like walking into another world.

The kind of place where every shelf seems to hold a little piece of history and every corner invites you to slow down and look a little closer.

As an artist, I’m always drawn to places with character, and this shop has it everywhere you look.

The worn spines, the stacked shelves, and even forecourt outside where people quietly sit and read

Inside, you’ll find everything from rare and antiquarian books to beautiful old editions, unexpected second-hand finds

And shelves of new titles waiting to be discovered.

It’s the sort of place where you might go in looking for one thing and come out with something completely different.

A book you didn’t know you needed until you found it.

It feels like somewhere you go to wander, to discover, and to lose track of time among the stories.

And it’s here that you begin to understand Pompey John who epitomises the saying 'never judge a book by its cover’

He is a lifelong football fanatic and passionate Portsmouth FC supporter.

And at the same time, the quiet custodian of an antiquarian bookshop, John embodies two worlds rarely seen together.

Passion and patience.

Chaos and Clarity.

The roar of the crowd balanced with the hush of turning pages.

His love for the game is contagious.

Watching John on a matchday, his energy is impossible to miss.

He doesn’t simply stand among the fans; he encourages them.

His voice is often the first to rise, his belief relentless, his presence setting the tone around him.

Through both triumph and setback, his loyalty never falters.

Seeing him in that space for myself, it was clear that his leadership is organic and unforced, rooted entirely in devotion.

A reminder of what it truly means to stand behind your club.

I painted John as part of my Petersfield Portraits series, and from the beginning this piece felt centred in community.

It captures John not just as a person, but as a presence, enigmatic yet approachable, kind, well-mannered and quietly powerful.

There is strength here, but never arrogance; a grounded confidence shaped by loyalty, curiosity, and character.

When it came to releasing this work as a print, I knew I wanted it to give something back.

After speaking with John, he chose Pompey in the Community as the charity he wanted the portrait to support.

Pompey in the Community is a charity connected to Portsmouth Football Club, working across Portsmouth and the surrounding areas

To support people through sport, education, health and inclusion programmes.

Their work makes a genuine difference at a local level, reaching thousands of people each year.

Today this work is now being released as a limited edition run of 500 prints.

A percentage of the proceeds from each print sold will be donated to Pompey in the Community, in support of the work they do within our community.

This release is about more than a portrait.

It’s about character, belonging, and supporting the people and places that matter.

Available Editions - Unframed 

Limited Edition Portrait Prints - 51cm x 61cm / 20.1 x 24 inches 

A strictly limited number of 500 full-size prints at the original portrait dimensions. Each print is produced to a high archival standard to preserve the depth, detail and atmosphere of the original artwork.

Smaller Fine Art Prints - Hahnemühle Prints

High-quality scaled prints, carefully produced to retain the richness and presence of the original piece ideal for collectors who want to own a part of the story in a more versatile size.

Postcards

Art-quality postcard prints perfect for gifting, collecting, or sending a little piece of Hampshire Heritage. 

Poster Prints Coming Soon