Cottage at Gimli

John Jones was an English-born architect, educator, and printmaker who played a significant role in the development of the graphic arts in Winnipeg during the early 20th century. Born in England, he received his formal training as an architect before immigrating to Canada in 1912. Upon his arrival in Winnipeg, he joined the staff of St. John’s College, where he served as a teacher and contributed to the academic and cultural life of the institution for many years.

In his artistic practice, Jones specialized in the relief and intaglio processes, particularly drypoint and coloured woodblock printing. His work often focused on architectural subjects and the landscape of Manitoba, blending his technical precision as an architect with a refined sensibility for color and line. He was a central figure in the local arts community and was instrumental in the early years of the Winnipeg Sketch Club. His dedication to printmaking helped establish a foundation for the medium in Western Canada during a period when oil painting was the dominant form of artistic expression.

Jones is perhaps most noted in Canadian art history for his profound influence on Walter J. Phillips (1884–1963). Having arrived in Winnipeg a year before Phillips, Jones became a close friend and a critical mentor to the younger artist. It was Jones who introduced Phillips to the techniques of etching and woodblock printing, providing him with the initial technical guidance and encouragement that would eventually lead Phillips to become Canada’s most celebrated woodblock artist. Their friendship was rooted in a shared British heritage and a mutual interest in adapting European printmaking traditions to the Canadian environment.

The professional legacy of John Jones is preserved through both his artistic output and his educational contributions. His work is represented in various public and private collections, particularly those focused on the history of printmaking in Manitoba. As an architect and artist, he remains a key transitional figure who bridged the gap between professional design and the fine arts in early 20th-century Winnipeg. He remained a resident of the city until his death in 1964.