John Macfarlane, designer, studied at Glasgow School of Art and pursues careers in theatre and painting. His many Opera designs include Peter Grimes, The Magic Flute, Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk and L’Heure espagnole/Gianni Schicchi (The Royal Opera), Hansel and Gretel (Welsh National Opera/Metropolitan Opera), The Queen of Spades (WNO),War and Peace (Opéra Bastille), La clemenza di Tito (Paris Opéra),Trojans (ENO), Don Giovanni (La Monnaie/San Francisco), Elektra and Rusalka (Chicago Lyric Opera), The Rake’s Progress (Scottish Opera), Maria Stuarda, Tosca, The Flying Dutchman and Agrippina (Metropolitan Opera) and Macbeth (Chicago). John has also designed sets and costumes for The Royal Ballet (most recently Swan Lake) and in theatres worldwide. He is a Chevalier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres. His other awards include the Designer Laureate of Benois de la Danse (Moscow, for Hummingbird in 2015 and Swan Lake in 2019), Outstanding Creative Contribution by the Critics Circle at the National Dance Awards, and the Robert L.B. Tobin Award for Sustained Excellence in Theatrical Design (2026). His published works include John Macfarlane – Theatre Design and Studio (Graefeg, 2024).