Jan Swinkels graduated from the Academy for Industrial Design in Eindhoven, now known as the "Design Academy" majoring in Graphic Design and Photography. At that time he began to develop interest for theatre. Among his first clientele were theatre group Proloog and theatre players Herman van Veen and Seth Gaaikema.
Ever since Swinkels has worked throughout the Netherlands and abroad for theatres, opera houses and concert halls but also for many people in the trade world and the service sector. His extremely varied work includes numerous posters, record and CD covers, program booklets, folders and brochures, calendars and annual reports .

He photographs many famous Dutch persons and has worked for just about all great artists and theatre producers in the recent Dutch theatre history. He has also worked in New York, London, Glyndebourne and at various locations in Belgium, France, Germany, Switzerland and Indonesia.
Among his clientele are names such as the famous Cirque du Soleil Europe, Riccardo Chailly, Jessey Norman, Arleen Auger, famous musicals like Les Miserables, The Phantom of the Opera, Cabaret, leading companies like Philips, Ballast Nedam, etc.

Swinkels, sometimes in cooperation with others, published his own photography work in books. His work was exhibited in museums like De Aemstelle, Theatre Carré, the Circustheater, the Stadsschouwburg Eindhoven, the Town hall Best and the Noordbrabants Museum in 's-Hertogenbosch.

Besides photography (graphic) design is one of his major businesses e.g. complete house styles, logos but also design of theatre sets and fairs.

But Jan Swinkels has also been active in the non-commercial field. Since the start of the Gaykrant in the Netherlands approx. 25 years ago, he has provided the photography for "Dit Keer" the monthly male nudes page of the magazine.

He has particularly been involved in young theatre talents, association life and culture. He voluntarily gives lectures and seminars for amateur photographers and designers.
Swinkels is one of the thriving energy persons of the traditional Brabant Carnival. He was indisputably one of the most popular Town Princes "Prins Paljan" in Eindhoven and was founder of the carnival club "D'Hoane".
Swinkels is an artistic motor for the cultural highlight of the Brabant Carnival, the annual Concert Carnavalesk a popular "Prom Concert" through the Brabant Philharmonic Orchestra and many vocal artists.
Through these activities he also developed himself into a designer of most original celebrations, shows and parties.

He was also an important person in the establishment of an 18-hole golf court in Best. In consequence of his great social and cultural merits Jan Swinkels was knighted by queen Beatrix of the Netherlands in the order of Oranje Nassau.

Jan Swinkels spends his spare time on listening to classical music, visiting theatre (particularly ballet, opera, cabaret, musicals and plays). He is interested in the Brabant cultural life, travelling and literature. Swinkels enjoys playing golf and loves his Rhodesian Ridgebacks.

	Jan lives and works in his rebuild farmhouse in North Brabant.

© Jan Swinkels