Originally from Maryland, John Preston earned his B.F.A. in 1984 from the Maharishi International University in Fairfield, Iowa. He fell in love with the dramatic weather and bucolic landscapes of the Midwest and remained in Fairfield after completing his degree. A full-time artist, Preston is also sought after as an instructor. He recently led a week-long pastel and oil workshop in Dubuque through Mississippi River Art Workshops that brought seventeen artists from the region together to paint en plein air in the endlessly inspiring natural and urban landscapes of our area.

Preston works in pastels, oils, and watercolors and places special emphasis on seeing and capturing the effects of light and weather in his landscapes and small town scenes. Preston has participated in many solo and group exhibitions and his work is included in corporate and museum collections including Equitable of Iowa, Chicago Federal Reserve, Pioneer Hi-Bred International, John Deere, Hubbell Realty, Iowa State Bank, Amoco Oil, Iowa State University, Farm Bureau Financial Services, and Hotel Pattee. He is represented at Olson-Larsen Gallery in West Des Moines, Iowa.