William Mitchell writes:
JOHN COLEMAN, a keen watercolour painter, first started his journey into iconography while residing at Hilfield Friary in Dorset. Here, he was to be found in the (then) art room, always happy to talk with visitors and teach if they were interested. He decided to replace the paper copy of the Trinity by Rublev with a painted copy.
After researching icon-writing using egg tempera and the pigments that would have been used at the time, he created the first of many carefully researched icons. His research took him on both visits and stays with Coptic monks in Egypt, and on many other travels, during which he studied pigments, techniques, and traditional writings. He became renowned as one of the finest icon-writers, certainly in the UK, if not internationally.
Many of the great and “ordinary” visited his simple small flat and studio in Dorset. They were always welcomed to talk about John’s great passions of icons, steam trains, railways, and bell-ringing; or he would teach others how to write icons.
His icons may be found in many cathedrals, abbeys, and churches (large and small) in the Anglican, Catholic, and Orthodox Churches, and retreat houses and belfries in the UK . Personal copies are held by the Pope, archbishops, many bishops, clergy, and others.
John could be found most summers in one or other of England’s cathedrals, churches, and retreat houses, or the almshouses in Glastonbury, working on several icons. He was always welcoming visitors and happy to talk with them about what he was working on.
A man of strong beliefs, modest and always willing to share his knowledge and have time for others without heed to rank or favour, John passed away peacefully, in his sleep, at home on 20 July.
He leaves behind a treasury and legacy of many icons from the “School of Coleman”, a term that, it is suspected, he would not recognise; but his was a recognised style within the scope of faithful reproduction of the copies of original icons as well as, sometimes, in an addition to reflect the intended recipient.
He is missed by his three daughters, two sons, family, and friends.
