LONDON.- John Hoyland, one of Britain’s leading abstract painters, has died at the age of 76. His work was known for its use of simple shapes and engaging colours, often on a large scale. In his later career he experimented with texture, layering paint thickly onto canvases. Hoyland’s early work was influenced by ‘New American Painting’, a 1959 exhibition at the Tate. Following his first solo show in 1964 he traveled to America, where he met leading American artists including Mark Rothko and Barnett Newman. Returning to Britain, he established himself as a major artist with his 1967 exhibition, ‘Paintings 1960–67’. John Hoyland’s Art Funded works can be seen above. John Hoyland studied at Sheffield School of Art from 1951 to 1956 and subsequently at the Royal Academy Schools from 1956 to 1960. He went on to teach at Hornsey College of Art from 1960 to 1962 and at Chelsea School of Art from 1962 to 1969 where he was also Principal Lecturer from 1965 to 1969. Subsequently, he