Jonathan Pitts artist studied Fine art at Falmouth College of Arts where he specialised in painting. Initially he focused on plein air landscape watercolours and gained national recognition after winning the 2nd prize at the Sunday Times Watercolour Competition. His painting has evolved from a sole focus on thin watercolour glazes, to incorporating and exploring thick ‘impasto’ paint applied liberally to canvas and work on paper.
His paintings have maintained a strong connection to the landscape throughout, in particular the undulating edges of the land that meet the water. This he attributes to growing up around the Cotswolds and being able to ramble across endless fields along the banks of the river Avon.
‘I find that when I am in a landscape, I am aware of everything happening around me, the wildlife is constantly moving, the clouds are changing every second and the land is being cultivated and shaped. Nothing is still, everything moves. In my painting I am trying to create an image where nothing feels still, where you feel that you are in that landscape.’
After winning the 2nd prize at the Sunday Times Watercolour competition Jonathan’s paintings of the sea have been in constant demand, his colourful art is in private collections worldwide. Jonathan exhibits his contemporary Cornish landscape paintings regularly; these paintings of the sea are for sale with Cotswold Contemporary, Aura Art, Soho Fine Art, & Collectors Prints.
Jonathan’s canvas artworks and works on paper are all made to a high professional standard. These acrylic impressionist landscape paintings are all framed and ready to hang as art for the office wall, or as art for the home. They are framed in bespoke hardwood frames that are finished in a variety of subtle satin finishes.
Jonathan is always interested in new artistic opportunities, please contact him using the contact form.
Education
Falmouth College of Arts, BA(Hons) Fine Art.
Worcester College of Technology, BTEC diploma in art and design.
Awards
2nd prize winner: Sunday Times Watercolour Competition, 2011.
Sail Loft Bursary, awarded by Falmouth College of Arts, 2004.
Selected Exhibitions, Galleries and Partners
Soho Fine Art, Brighton, 2023.
Out to Sea, Cotswold Contemporary 2023.
Collectors Prints, since 2023.
Shoreline, Cotswold Contemporary 2023.
Aura Fine Art, since 2023.
Soho Fine Art, Guildford, since 2022.
The Hook, London, 2022.
Cotswold Contemporary, since 2021
Precision Auction House, High Wycombe, 2021.
May Interiors, Wokingham, 2020.
Singulart.com online gallery. Part of the top 30% most viewed artists in 2021, exhibiting since 2019.
Autumn Exhibition, Silson Contemporary, Harrogate, 2018.
Late Summer and Autumn, The Art Agency, Esher, 2018.
Midlands Open, Tarpey Gallery, Castle Donnington, 2017.
Lumi Arts, online gallery, exhibiting artist since 2017.
Off the Wall gallery, Cardiff, exhibiting artist since 2015.
Sunday Times Watercolour Competition, the Mall galleries, London in 2011 & 2014. 2nd prize winner in 2011.
National Open Art Exhibition, Little Buckland Gallery, 2014.
RWS Contemporary Watercolour Exhibition, Bankside Gallery, 2012 & 2013.
The Stour Gallery, Shipston-on-Stour. Solo showcase & exhibiting artist since 2013.
Fountain Fine Art, Llandelio, exhibiting artist since 2012.
Pure Art, two solo exhibitions and exhibiting artist since 2011.
158th Autumn Exhibition, Royal West of England Academy, Bristol, 2010.
artgallery.co.uk, online gallery, premier artist since 2009.
Beside the Avon, solo exhibition, Number 8 Gallery, Pershore, 2008.
Solo Exhibition, Oxford University Press, 2007.
Television
Sky Arts Landscape Artist of the Year 2015 & 2016.
Commissioned Artwork
Press Articles
'A Glimpse Inside Plein Air Landscape Artist Jonathan Pitts’ World,' by Jessalynne Madden, segmation.com 2017.
'Artist in Focus: Jonathan Pitts,' Lumi Arts, 2017.
‘Painting Is My Way Of Making Sense Of The World’ for Jackson's Art Supplies artist Interviews article by Lisa Takahashi, June 2016.
'Watercolour Today,' Artists & Illustrators Magazine, feature article by Martha Alexander, July 2012.
'An instinctive response,' The Artist Magazine, a masterclass feature article by Oliver Lange, May 2012.
'Private Glimpse of Watercolours,' Surrey Advertiser, newspaper article, 2011.
'The Sunday Times Watercolour Competition,' exhibition catalogue, 2011.
'Artist’s stroke of genius lands him silver prize,' Staines News, 2nd page newspaper article, 2011.
'Quality Assurances,' The Sunday Times Culture Magazine, feature article by Frank Whitford, Times art critic, 2011.
'Twilight artist is over the moon,' Staines Informer, newspaper article, 2011