John Varah
John is a founder member of Phoenix and the current Chair of the Trustees. He has been a studio member since the group arrived at the building and over the years has worked in various capacities as part of the team that steered the group through its evolution from 18 studio-less artists to a charity owning its own premises and housing 100 artists, alongside galleries and workshops. John has a lifelong commitment to projects and processes that empower artists to improve and manage their own environments, and as such is dedicated to artist lead initiatives.
His own art practice has been divided between site specific visual theatre/ performance art as a lighting designer and maker and a more solitary practice in Printmaking and assemblage using found and gathered images. He has exhibited / performed in a wide range of venues and was a member of Industrial & Domestic Theatre Contractors a pioneering site based theatre and arts company. He has lived in Brighton for 15 years, working in a variety of community and professional art settings. John is currently Artistic Director of Same Sky the regions leading community / and celebratory arts company.
