Jack Hilton

Hilton’s work explores history, literature and mythology. Often a real historical episode is presented like a myth of biblical drama, riffing on the long tradition of History Painting. Subjects vary from the Tower of Babel to Bayeux Tapestry ships on fire. In the process, Hilton aims to give a fresh sense of emotional resonance or levity to these scenes. 

Hilton uses these intense narratives as a leaping-off point for more formal exploration of colour and pattern-making. He uses figuration in a heraldic, patchwork kind of way, with large parts of the canvas blocked out by flat colour, interrupted by layered shapes. In art as in life, what you take out is more important than what you put in. 

Following a degree in English Literature at the University of Sussex, Hilton began to paint professionally in 2020. He has since been part of many exhibitions including with Felt Collections (London) and Reuter Bausch (Luxembourg.) His first solo show came in the winter of 2023 with The Table, Hay-on-Wye followed by another at Galleriet Agnes in Copenhagen in the summer of 2024. 

Hilton comes from a family of painters. His grandparents were the acclaimed St Ives artists Rose and Roger Hilton.