John Hutton (artist)

John Hutton (1906-1978) was a New Zealand-born artist, best known for his monumental glass engravings, particularly the "Great Glass Screen" at Coventry Cathedral.

Hutton trained at the Wellington Technical College in New Zealand and later at the Royal College of Art in London. During World War II, he served as a camouflage officer.

Following the war, Hutton began experimenting with glass engraving, a technique he would master and for which he would gain international recognition. The Coventry Cathedral commission, undertaken in the late 1950s and early 1960s, involved engraving over sixty figures onto a massive glass screen behind the altar. The screen depicts saints and angels, and is a defining feature of the modern cathedral, replacing the one destroyed in the Blitz.

Beyond Coventry, Hutton also created glass engravings for various other public and private buildings, showcasing his distinctive style characterized by bold lines and dramatic compositions. His work reflects both a modernist aesthetic and a deep understanding of traditional artistic techniques. He also produced prints and drawings.

Hutton's work is held in numerous collections, and he remains a significant figure in the history of modern glass art.