• Large African elephant appearing to swim through thick abstract coral-like paint, by Johny Midnight.
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Gallery Midnight

The Big Swim

The Big Swim

by Johny Midnight

A giant African elephant that looks, improbably, like it is swimming. Thick slabs of palette paint read as coral or open water, and a familiar animal is dropped somewhere you would never expect to find it.

Original for sale £5,000 | contact gallery

Limited edition fine art prints, hand-signed and numbered by the artist. Once the edition is sold out, it will not be reproduced.

£250.00 GBP
£250.00 GBP
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  • Artwork Description

    Heavy, palette-knifed paint builds a submerged, coral-like field of colour, and through it moves a large African elephant, apparently swimming. The animal is recognisable but the setting is pure abstraction, the thick impasto refusing to settle into a definite place. The result is playful and slightly surreal - the everyday bulk of an elephant relocated into an underwater dream, held together by texture and colour rather than logic.

  • Artist's Insight

    This began with thick, heavy lumps of paint laid straight from the palette, which felt to me like coral, or at least like something underwater. Out of that came an elephant that looks as though it is swimming. I very nearly gave it swimming trunks and goggles, then thought better of it. The idea is to take what we think we know about elephants and put them somewhere you would never actually see them.

Original Artwork Information

Artwork year created:

Original artwork size: 100 x 120 cm

Original artwork medium: Oil on canvas

Original artwork status: Available for sale - £5,000

Print Details

Gallery Midnight limited edition fine art prints are available in A2 and A3 sizes. Edition sizes vary depending on the artwork.

Edition Details

  • A3 Limited Edition of 100
  • A2 Limited Edition of 100
  • Printed on archival matt fine art paper
  • Hand-signed and numbered by the artist
  • Certificate of authenticity included

Framing

Framing is available exclusively through the gallery. As framing is a highly personal decision and depends on the setting in which the artwork will be displayed, we prefer to discuss framing options directly with collectors. Please contact the gallery to arrange framing for your print.

Original paintings are typically presented on stretched canvas and do not require framing.

Please contact the gallery for framing advice or to arrange framing

Shipping

UK Delivery

Limited edition prints are dispatched via Royal Mail and typically arrive within 3–5 working days.

  • Free UK delivery on orders over £250
  • £5.99 delivery for orders under £250

International Delivery

We also ship internationally via Royal Mail.

  • Europe: £10
  • Rest of World: £15

Delivery times for international orders may vary depending on destination and local customs processing.

Packaging

Limited Edition Prints

All limited edition prints are carefully packaged in protective cardboard tubes to ensure they arrive safely and in excellent condition. This method protects the artwork during transit and allows the print to be professionally framed once received.

Original Paintings

Original paintings are typically collected from the gallery or arranged for delivery separately. Please contact the gallery to discuss shipping options for original artworks.

Returns

Please view our returns policy here

Johny Midnight, artist and founder of Gallery Midnight, Balham, Londo

About the Artist

Johny is a painter and founder of Gallery Midnight in Balham. His work is often described as “abstract on reality”, capturing familiar landscapes, seascapes and city scenes with expressive colour and movement. Influenced by a life spent between London, the Alps and the Caribbean, his paintings explore changing light, atmosphere and energy, inviting viewers to see well-known places in new and unexpected ways.

Discover more about Johny and Gallery Midnight

Blog posts

  • Collage of Johny Midnight live-painting Battersea Power Station scenes and standing with his colourful power station artworks.

    Battersea Power Station Art: Why I Keep Coming ...

    Battersea Power Station art has become a defining series for Johny Midnight - bold, graphic paintings that explore atmosphere, structure, and the presence of one of London’s most iconic landmarks.

    Battersea Power Station Art: Why I Keep Coming ...

    Battersea Power Station art has become a defining series for Johny Midnight - bold, graphic paintings that explore atmosphere, structure, and the presence of one of London’s most iconic landmarks.

  • Collage of Gallery Midnight's snowy shop window, costumed skiers, gallery visitors and the artist painting an alpine scene.

    Why Skiing Artwork Sits at the Heart of My Work

    Skiing artwork is where it all began for Johny Midnight - from a wooden shed in Chamonix to paintings that capture movement, scale, and the feeling of being high in...

    Why Skiing Artwork Sits at the Heart of My Work

    Skiing artwork is where it all began for Johny Midnight - from a wooden shed in Chamonix to paintings that capture movement, scale, and the feeling of being high in...

  • Collage of Johny Midnight showing his Shackleton Endurance ship paintings at gallery talks, with guests and a portrait of Shackleton.

    The Shackleton Endurance Collection: Why I Devo...

    Johny’s fascination with polar exploration led him to create the acclaimed Shackleton's Endurance Collection - a year-long project inspired by the 2022 discovery of Endurance by marine archaeologist Mensun Bound. Drawing...

    The Shackleton Endurance Collection: Why I Devo...

    Johny’s fascination with polar exploration led him to create the acclaimed Shackleton's Endurance Collection - a year-long project inspired by the 2022 discovery of Endurance by marine archaeologist Mensun Bound. Drawing...

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