"My portraits are a reflection of myself and visions which I get. My emotions are revealed in the eyes of the sitter and the techniques I employ compliment the honest moment which I aim to capture. I explore the theme of beauty and vulnerability in youth and I challenge certain ideas by distorting the figure, sometimes using turpentine to disrupt the surface of paint.

I am diversely spontaneous in the way I work the paint. I don't see any limits to painting nor do I limit myself as an artist. The portraits are full of intrigue in their subtle contradictions, giving them an ambiguous and awkward underlying tension. My work also challenges perceptions of beauty and identity. They lie somewhere in between dream and reality and they play with preconceptions, causing conflict between mind and reality thus creating a cognitive dissonance.

My faith as a Christian is key to my practice and drives me to travel and see different cultures and experience new things, giving me inspiration and growth. There is an intimacy between the portrait and the viewer in my work and I want to challenge what it means to be human, appreciate and be in awe of the subjects which I have chosen. Their diversity makes it fascinating to look at and be connected to them. I want the viewer to come as close as they possibly can to the portrait and for the portraits to be exposed."

In November 2009 Johan exhibited in Artbarter with Tracey Emin, Sir Peter Blake, Gavin Turk, Mat Collishaw among others. He also recently exhibited with the likes of Sarah Lucas, Sir Howard Hodgkin, Anish Kapoor, Paula Rego and Cornelia Parker in a charity auction for Victims of torture. In December he exhibited in Flowers East gallery alongside artists including Anthony Carro and Gerry Judah. He has recently been chosen to be advertised in South Kensington and Baker Street Underground on billboard posters with ArtBelow ltd

Born: Trollhättan, Sweden 1986, moved to England 1995

Studied: BA (Hons) Fine Art Painting, Central Saint Martins 2008

Studio: South Bermondsey, London