JOHNS, Edwin Thomas

1862 - 1947

Edwin Thomas Johns was born at Ipswich on 26 December 1862, youngest of the five children of William Johns (1820-1903) of South Wales, a carpenter, and his wife Isabella Elvira née Wardle (1825-27 December 1908), of London. In 1871, Edwin was an 8-year-old, living at 26 Tacket Street, Ipswich with his parents, 50-year-old William and 46-year-old Isabella, with four siblings, Elvira Isabella 20, Lavinia 16, Ellen 12 and William 10. Edwin attended the Ipswich School of Art under William Thompson Griffiths and in 1877 articled to architect James Butterworth (1831-1916) of 6 Museum Street, Ipswich and on Butterworth’s retirement completed his articles with William Cotman Eade and became his assistant. Johns had at some time worked with Brightwen Binyon before rejoining Eade, trading as Eade & Johns until 1912, when Eade retired and Edwin carried on his own account from 8 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich and became President of the Suffolk Association of Architects. In 1921 he was joined by his nephew Martin Johns Slater under the name of Johns & Slater until Johns retired in 1933. An accomplished painter in watercolour, which became his main interest later in his life, and was a life member and regular annual exhibitor at the Ipswich Art Club 1887-1947 and one-time secretary and president. He exhibited from 8 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich in 1916, seven works 'The of Titus, Rome', 'The Ancient House and Dial Lane', 'Dorothy', 'A Bit of Old Ipswich', 'St Mark's, Venice, Main Entrance', 'Cottages, Mellis Common' and 'Cottage, Sidegate Lane', in 1927 an oil 'Golden Glory' and two watercolours 'The Colonnade, St Peter's, Rome' and 'A Corner of my Garden', in 1932 an oil 'Reflections' and three watercolours 'The Tower, St Osyth Priory', 'Sleep' and 'The Ancient House from St Stephen's Lane', in 1933 he had five paintings on display, an oil 'Martlesham' and four watercolours 'Miss Beris Wrinch', 'Silent Street, Ipswich', 'Salome' and 'The Bather', in 1937 'The Base of the Monument' which was also shown at the Royal Academy in 1937, 'Industrial Ipswich', 'Tuddenham', another 'Industrial Ipswich', 'View from the Strand, Ipswich' and 'St Peter's Street, Ipswich, in 1943 he exhibited three works 'Church Street, Shrewsbury', 'The Abbey, Shrewsbury' and 'Budapest from St Gelert's Hill', in 1944 two works 'The Colonnade of St Peter's Rome' and 'Hadleigh' and his watercolour 'Industrial Ipswich' was on show at the Club centenary in 1974. He also exhibited at the Royal Academy and elsewhere. He married at the Congregational Chapel, Redhill on 29 March 1893, Janet Eliza Prentice (1864-12 April 1936), youngest daughter of Oliver Prentice of Ipswich. Edwin Thomas Johns died at 35 Fonnereau Road, Ipswich on 11 November 1947, aged 84, they had no issue.

Royal Academy Exhibits
from 10 Silent Street, Ipswich
1905 918 The Old Forge
1906 897 Carisbrooke Castle
from 8 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich
1908 1322 Mary
1916 1495 The Ancient House and Dial Lane, Ipswich
1918 757 The Arch of Titus, Rome - watercolour
1936 1031 Industrial Ipswich
1938 965 Fleet Street
1939 819 The Base of the Monument

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Works by This Artist