J

ackie Hinkson grew up in the town of Port of Spain, Trinidad, living with his family in a gabled wooden colonial house with the characteristic roof, portico, wooden jalousies and decorative fretwork, so representative of dwellings built at the turn of the century.

Because his father was a Travelling Officer with the colonial government, Hinkson enjoyed extensive exposure to Trinidad's rural and coastal landscape and architecture, particularly plantation architecture. During his teenage years he struck up a friendship with a fellow schoolmate. With Peter Minshall Jackie worked and discussed art extensively.

In 1961, with Minshall, Pat Bishop, Alice Greenhall and Arthur Webb, Hinkson was one of the Five Young Artists whose work premiered at the old Woodbrook Market on French Street in Port of Spain, then the headquarters of the Trinidad Art Society.
Through this exhibition another significant artistic link was formed, this time with art critic Derek Walcott, later to be Nobel Laureate for Literature. Walcott's criticisms, encouragement and friendship, which began in Hinkson’s early teenage years, continues to the present. Their work was featured in October 1998 at the State University of New York at Albany, USA.

Leaving Trinidad in 1963, along with Minshall, Hinkson embarked on a one-year scholarship at the Academie Julien in Paris. A year later he proceeded on an art scholarship to Canada (BA Fine Arts) and a Dip. Ed. He admired and was influenced there by Abstract Impressionists, Pop Artists and minimal Artists. He also developed a strong interest in sculpture. Five years later, when the North American influence was beginning to have a decisive effect, Hinkson returned to Trinidad.