The Art of Max Vann

Max Vann: Teacher, Artist (and bus driver) Extraordinaire

Max with his 'Black Country in Micro-Mosaic' painting

My father John Maxwell Vann, known as ‘Max’, was born in Stourbridge in January 1939 and, after doing National Service, became a schoolteacher (teaching History amongst other subjects) spending most of his teaching career at Tividale Comprehensive School (now Ormiston Sandwell Community Academy).

The Black Country in Micro-Mosaic by Max Vann

I always knew he was a talented artist, and I remember him working on his artwork late most evenings, but it was only after he passed away that I found what a large body of high-quality work he had amassed over the years. There are folders and portfolios full of original drawings and paintings that he created in his role as a schoolteacher, handmade teaching resources for duplicating and distributing, and then, in retirement, output as a commercial artist. This includes promotional artwork for Black Country entrepreneurs and businesses such as Black Country Tours and Dudley Canal Trust.

Small watercolour from a series of paintings of Black Country canal folk, this one called ‘Aye, aye, Cap’n!’

In his teaching career, Max proved to be something of a maverick, bending the rules when necessary to be able to deliver the best possible experience for his students, for example commandeering the school minibus for impromptu trips to places of local historic interest or delivering lessons in a local pub. He illuminated the past for his students with his own extraordinarily detailed, illustrated worksheets and slideshows.

Comic artist Bill Tidy (left) and Max holding his winner entry in the ‘Colour The Black Country’ awards evening at Station Hotel Dudley.

In 1989, he entered the ‘Colour the Black Country’ art competition with a 'micro mosaic' which transitions from historical black-and-white scenes to modern-day colour scenes. His painting was featured in a 1990 calendar of winning artworks. Our family attended the awards and launch event at the Station Hotel in Dudley, where we met comic artist Bill Tidy.

The other category winners of the 'Colour The Black Country' art competition with Bill Tidy.

The printed 1990 calendar which features Max's painting

Poster advertising the competition

Detail from Max’s ‘Black Country in Micro Mosaic’ painting

Further Examples of Max's Art

Including some of the worksheets he created for his lessons

When he passed away in December 2023, at the age of 84, many of his former students posted online tributes to express how his approach had inspired them to have an interest in and appreciation for History.

The Opposite of Ordinary
Written by Alex Vann,
based on Max Vann’s former Tividale Comprehensive School students’ online tributes and read out at his funeral.

I blame you, Mr Vann, for all the money I have spent
On history books and podcasts – you were always such a gent
Because of you I still speak random words in German
You taught us all with such excitement – such a passion

A big ginger moustache, so funny and so kind
Running daily to the 'Comp' - come rain, come wind, come shine
A law unto yourself – your stories still enthral
From the Tudors to Checkpoint Charlie, the best teacher I can recall

A true inspiration, never nasty and always calm
Respected by all – you held us in your palm
You’d commandeer the minibus, and walk us ‘round in rings
Teach lessons in the local pub, you’re a rarely discovered thing

Talented teacher, artist, father – you touched everyone you met
Like the Celts and Boudica you’re a legend I won’t forget
You taught me Russian and compassion in the heart of the Black Country
Thanks for all the fun - and for being The Opposite of Ordinary!!

Looking back : Army Life, Teaching & Love

Max volunteered for National Service in 1960 at a time when it was no longer compulsory and was quickly promoted to the rank of sergeant. He greatly enjoyed his time in the army and this is where he met his future wife Shirley, my mother, who was working in the NAAFI shop at Blenheim Camp Barracks in Bury St Edmunds.
How many couples can say they fell in love as their eyes met over a pair of army regulation boot laces?

Max (left) with a colleague in a German schoolroom, early 1960s

Max and Shirley on their wedding day 13.7.1963, Lichfield

Shirley and Max in a photo booth

After leaving the army, Max would hitch-hike from his digs in Lichfield most weekends to see Shirley in Bury St Edmunds and during a particularly ferocious winter of Jan - Feb 1963 he hitch-hiked his way around Europe. They were married on 13th July 1963 at Lichfield Registration Office and went on to have 4 children, myself being the youngest.

Pencil sketch of Lichfield Cathedral. Max was living in digs in Lichfield in the early 1960s and he married Shirley at Lichfield Registration Office in 1963.

Me, on my dad's shoulders

Max started his teaching career in Staffordshire and went on to work in Germany, London, Essex and eventually became a teacher of History at Tividale Comprehensive School (now Ormiston Sandwell Community Academy) from 1973 to 1994. His interest in the military from his own army service informed his illustrations and designs for the history lessons he delivered. He took great delight in reproducing the propaganda posters of the two world wars and military uniforms and insignia of different nations through the ages.

He gravitated towards students who needed an extra helping hand and was a fatherly figure who knew how to best encourage them to do well, sometimes introducing more vocational and citizenship type activities rather than focusing solely on academic ones. This approach often led to him clashing with school leaders who had other objectives.

Max in about 1984 during his career at Tividale Comprehensive School

Max with a group of students on a hike around Much Wenlock. Coincidentally, the boy lying down in the background turns out to be one of my musical colleagues, singer songwriter Joe Bayliss!

One particular boy was really struggling with lessons and most of the other teachers gave up on him. Max persevered and many years later, at a chance meeting, the boy thanked him for believing in him. He explained he’d gone on to achieve great success, including a PhD, and he credited dad’s nurturing for his achievements.

Max was pleased to be able to take early retirement in 1993 in order to pursue other, more liberating, activities.

Driving Forward: Life after Teaching, Black Country Artwork ... and Bus Driving!

Max took early retirement from teaching at Tividale Comprehensive at the age of 54 in 1993 and was then able to pursue other, more liberating, activities.

Max at the wheel of the Black Country Tours double decker bus

This included passing his PSV (Public Service Vehicle) driving licence and becoming a driver for ‘Black Country Tours’ owned by Halesowen entrepreneur Richard (‘Dickie’) James. BCT was a small fleet of double decker buses which picked up groups of revellers and toured them around traditional Black Country pubs, with one of these venues usually serving a meal of ‘faggits and pays’ and another providing some form of live entertainment. The maiden bus had a fully stocked bar onboard, as well as an upright piano and I can remember tickling the ivories on many an occasion. My very first job was working behind the bar onboard the ‘beer bus’, often partaking in an optic or two at the end of a hectic shift!

Max Vann pictured next to the Black Country Tours bus

Watercolour painting of ‘Aynuk’ one of the Black Country Tours buses

Max with a fellow driver, in front of the Black Country Tours Bus (also known as the “Beer Bus”)

Max also became a commercial artist for Black Country Tours – producing hand rendered advertisements and posters and designs for the sides of the buses themselves. He would often use his children (and grandchildren) as models and I remember helping dad paint some of his designs onto the upper side of one of the buses. I remember hearing a story of dad happily chatting away with a passer-by who’d popped onto the bus out of curiosity, blissfully unaware that it was Noddy Holder from the rock group Slade!

The 'Belt Buzzters'

Poster design for the Belt Buzzter campaign - aimed at encouraging young people to fasten their seatbelts when travelling on buses and coaches that have them

A poster design for the 'Belt Buzzter' campaign - aimed at encouraging young people to fasten their seatbelts when travelling on buses and coaches that have them.

Local press coverage of the 'Belt-Buzzter' campaign

Cover of the Good Faggot Guide book, still available from the Black Country Society website

He also worked with Dickie James on some of his other projects: a book called The Good Faggot Guide (which is still available from the Black Country Society website) and the and his renown Black Country themed restaurant Grorty Dicks. He also undertook design work for Dudley Canal Trust and the artwork for a Black Country dialect alphabet which was reproduced on tea towel – one of the first to be sold in the Black Country Living Museum shop.

Illustration for the centre spread of the Good Faggot Guide book

Illustration for chapter one of the Good Faggot Guide book,

A Black Country Alphabet. Written by Doug Southall, illustrated by Max Vann and printed by Julian Jankowski, a teaching colleague at Tividale Comp School. Dad told me this was the first tea towel to be sold in the Black Country Living Museum shop.

Crest for the Black Country Tours, note the Crooked House in the bottom left quadrant

More examples of Max's Black Country artwork

In the late 1990s he did a series of paintings under the trading name BUZZ-NUTZ aimed at vehicle enthusiasts. These were caricatures of the owner with their prized vehicle, usually a classic or unusual one.

One of the ‘Buzz-Nutz’ cartoons for enthusiast vehicle owners

An industrial scene, 1990s showing the regeneration of the Black Country which included the building of Merry Hill Shopping Centre.

A Family of Artists: Exhibition at 'The Public'

July 2013

The Vann Clan with their artworks

In July 2013 the Vann family artists featured in an art exhibition at The Public in West Bromwich. In the photo above I'm holding up my oil painting of my daughter Olivia, next to me is my niece Elizabeth with her portrait drawing of singer Jessie J, my sister Kate is holding up her abstract painting and Dad is next to her with his Black Country in Micro Mosaic painting.

The Vann family in front of Vann artworks at The Public art exhibition on Saturday 14th July 2013

My niece Lizzy and Dad caught in a candid camera moment

The exhibition coincided with Max and Shirley's 50th wedding Anniversary and we went for a family meal after the event at The Public.

My mother Shirley lived with dementia in her later years and when she passed away in June 2019, we introduced dad to Dudley My, Myself and I - a support group which provides information and social activities for carers of people with dementia and the person with the condition. I now own a company called Real Arts Workshops (RAW) which provides meaningful art experiences for people of all ages and abilities, and I like to think that dad’s work ethic and attention to detail lives on in the work that we do with community groups. Dad took part in a charcoal drawing session which RAW ran at My, Myself and I in March 2023 and drew a wonderful sketch of an elephant, one of his last drawings.

Max working on one of his last drawings at 'Dudley Me Myself I' group

Max starting his charcoal sketch of an elephant with his daughter Kate next to him

The completed drawing

Dad and myself at a 'Busking for Charity' event in Dudley Town centre with John Langford, Billy Spakemon and Dave Coughlin are in the background

'Vann's in a van!' Me and Dad in the RAW van.

Sadly, Max collapsed at home on 19th December 2023 and his daughter Kate was with him. He passed away later that night in hospital with his other daughter, Karen holding his hand.

Sharing examples of his art and telling stories about his life ensures that although he is no longer with us in person, his legacy lives on.