“John Sparrow: Haircuts, Horsepower, and Pop Art Punch”

“I don’t think I’ve grown up yet,” John Sparrow grins, leaning back in his chair. “But I might one day… maybe.”

It’s hard to imagine him any other way. John, the creative force behind Sparrowhawk Art, has lived a life in vivid Technicolor long before he ever picked up a paintbrush. Born and raised in East London in the late ’60s and early ’70s, his early years were defined by speed and adrenaline — first as a jockey, thundering down racetracks, then trying his hand at acting.

Then came the scissors. Swapping helmets for hairdryers, John found a different kind of artistry as a hair stylist — a career he still adores. “Cutting hair is like sculpting,” he says. “It’s about shape, flow, and personality. Not that different from painting, really.”

His real love affair with painting began just 12 years ago. Drawn to the bold lines and unapologetic colour of Andy Warhol, Roy Lichtenstein, and Ronnie Wood, John began developing his own pop-infused style: vibrant, energetic, and unapologetically loud. That style quickly began turning heads — and not just in the salon. In 2019, six years after first picking up a brush, John took home the prestigious Sponsor’s Choice Award at the Royal Norfolk Show Art Exhibition. Fittingly, the winning piece was of one of his greatest inspirations: Ronnie Wood himself.

When he’s not painting, John sells his artwork, prints, and merchandise, and also works on commissions — each piece carrying that same spark of rebellion and joy that defines everything he does.

“Art, music, hair — it’s all about expression,” he says. “It’s about getting that feeling out into the world, whether it’s on a head, a canvas, or through a microphone.”

Sparrowhawk Art isn’t just John’s creative outlet — it’s a visual extension of a life lived without half-measures. His work bursts with confidence, humour, and a knowing wink to pop culture, just like the man himself. And while he jokes about growing up one day, you get the feeling he knows the truth: staying young at heart is what keeps his art alive.