-
overview
Walker's rare ability to give to each of the animals he depicts their unique characteristics and personas, while dressing them up in old cast-off human garments never robs them of their intrinsic "animalness".
Jonathan Walker was born in 1966 in Staffordshire and grew up in the Moorlands, where early experiences of the landscape shaped his enduring interest in the natural world. Much of his childhood was spent exploring the countryside with his father, himself an artist, and this close observation of wildlife continues to inform his practice. As a teenager, Walker studied Philosophy, Theology and Fine Art before training as an Occupational Therapist, working for many years with individuals experiencing severe mental health challenges. In 1991 he moved to Devon, where he continues to live and work. The landscapes of Dartmoor and the surrounding countryside provide the setting for much of his work, with subjects drawn from direct observation of animals such as badgers, foxes and small mammals encountered near his home. Working primarily in watercolour, Walker combines careful draughtsmanship with a restrained, earth-based palette of siennas, ochres and muted greens.
His paintings sit within the tradition of British wildlife illustration, yet are distinguished by their emphasis on character and individuality. Each animal is observed closely and presented with a degree of personality, grounded in the physical realities of its environment. Surface, texture and setting are treated with equal attention, resulting in compositions that reflect both the structure of the animal and the conditions of the landscape it inhabits.
-
Werke
Jonathan Walker
Best ThreadsWatercolour35 x 15 cms / 13¾ x 6 inchesSigned 'Jonathan Walker' (lower right)
Sold as a triptych, alongside 'The Connoisseur' and 'The Country Gent'Description
Best Threads is a wonderfully stylish portrait that perfectly captures the artist’s playful fascination with vanity, elegance and countryside eccentricity. Striding forward, this impeccably dressed hare cuts the figure of a true Regency dandy - self-assured, immaculately turned out, and clearly aware of the impression he leaves behind. Dressed in a richly tailored blue frock coat, embroidered waistcoat, crisp lace cravat, fitted breeches and polished shoes, the figure embodies the theatricality of aristocratic fashion. Cane in hand and posture perfectly poised, the hare appears mid-promenade, as though taking part in some grand social parade or society gathering. Yet, despite the sophistication of the clothing and human mannerisms, Walker ensures the animal beneath remains ever-present through the alert stance, expressive whiskers and towering ears, preserving the creature’s innate wildness beneath the layers of refinement.
Jonathan Walker, who lives and works in Devon, is renowned for his imaginative anthropomorphic paintings inspired by the creatures and characters of the British countryside. His hares, foxes, badgers and moles inhabit a parallel world where woodland animals adopt human fashions and rituals while never losing their intrinsic animal nature. Influenced by traditional illustration yet unmistakably modern in execution, Walker’s work combines wit and narrative charm with subtle observations of human behaviour.
Sold as a triptych, alongside The Conoisseaur and The Country Gent.
Contact FormSend me more information on Jonathan Walker