John Henry Amshewitz was born in Ramsgate, England. J H Amshewitz won art scholarship and studied in 1900 – 1907 art at Royal Academy Schools under Sargent and other Royal Academicians. J H Amshewitz won commission for murals in City Hall, Liverpool.
In 1914 Elected Member of Royal Society of British Artists (RBA). In 1916 accepted a theatrical role in a production for a six month tour of South Africa, however, stayed there for six years. Amshewitz was founder-member of Johannesburg Sketch Club, subsequently became President. Rented studio in ‘The Dome’, Cuthbert’s Buildings, Eloff Street, Johannesburg.
In 1922 returned to England and became friends with Sickert. In 1936 J H Amshewitz returned to South Africa; regained studio in ‘The Dome’, Johannesburg.
In 1938 Mural for Pretoria City Hall unveiled by JH Hofmeyer.
Amshewitz was a regular exhibitor at the Royal Academy from 1905.
In 1916 J H Amshewitz first one-man art exhibition, Johannesburg; followed by many others during his two periods of residence in South Africa; exhibited with Johannesburg Sketch Club and South African Society of Artists.
In 1924 South Africa Section, Empire Exhibition, Wembley. Several exhibitions in London.
In 1943 Memorial Exhibition, Johannesburg.
In 1979 ‘South African Printmakers’, South Africa National Art Gallery, Cape Town.
His work is represented in the South Africa National Art Gallery, Cape Town; Johannesburg Art Gallery; Durban Art Gallery; Pretoria Art Museum; William Humphreys Art Gallery, Kimberley; King George VI Art Gallery, Port Elizabeth; Africana Museum, Johannesburg; Albany Museum, Grahamstown; ‘Libertas’; Ann Bryant Art Gallery, East London and Metropolitan Museum, New York; Victoria and Albert Museum, London.