Jonathan Sainsbury (born 1951, Stratford-upon-Avon, England, UK) is a cotemporary painter based in Comrie, Scotland, UK. Working primarily in charcoal, watercolour, and oil on linen or panel, his practice is rooted in the traditions of the Old Masters while engaging with contemporary concerns. He is best known for his original and evolving interpretations of the natural world, using painting as a visual language that extends beyond the capacities of photography
Sainsbury’s work is distinguished by its focus on landscape, natural history, and in particular, avian subjects. His compositions often balance reverence for the beauty of nature with an awareness of the environmental challenges, bringing together fine observational detail and atmospheric depth. Over the course of his career, he has developed a number of significant series exploring birds and their habitats, as well as broader projects that reflect the interconnectedness of ecological systems.
Jonathan Sainsbury has exhibited at the Woodson Art Museum, Wisconsin, USA; Nature in Art Museum, Gloucester, UK; the Society of Animal Artists across various US museums; the Royal Scottish Academy, Edinburgh.UK and the Mall Galleries London, UK. His work is represented in the permanent collections of the Woodson Art Museum and Nature in Art Museum, as well as in numerous private collections nationally and internationally. He has participated in Fabriano Aquarelle, Bologna, Italy; the Royal Scottish Watercolour Society, Edinburgh. UK; the Society of Wildlife Artists at the Mall Galleries, London, UK; and the annual “Birds in Art” exhibition at the Woodson Museum. Wisconsin, USA.
Jonathan Sainsbury
I was born in a small village near Stratford upon Avon.
Schooling is of no interest to me or you I would imagine safe to say I did not care for any of it and only when asked to leave did my education begin when I started a Dip Ad course in Leamington Spa at the Mid Warwickshire college of further education.
I then went to The Byam Shaw School of Drawing and Painting 69 – 70
Royal Shakespeare Theatre as a scenery painter 70 – 72
Leeds Polytechnic BA hons Fine Art 73 – 76
I was taken on by the William Marler Gallery 83 -91. He drove me to Scotland and asked me to paint Scottish scenes with game subjects akin to those of Archibald Thorburn, Tunnicliffe and other realistic wildlife artists.
Since 91 until today I have put on many one man shows I will list as many I can remember
The Long Room, Purdey 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008.
Scone Palace, Perth 1993, 1999.
Burton Art Gallery, Bideford, Devon. 1997.
Kissing Tree House (Late home of JB Priestly) 1994
Foxcote House, Warwickshire. 1994
William Marler Gallery 83 -91.
Frames Gallery, Perth. 2012,2019 and 2023.
Scottish Ornithologists’ Club Gallery 2024
OPEN EXHIBITIONS
Aberdeen Artists, exhibition 2010 -13, 2022.
Algonquin Park, Ontario, Canada. 1998,1999.
Artists, Foundation for Conservation, Vancouver. 2012 – 2016.
‘Birds in Art’ Woodson Art Museum, USA, 1994 -1995,1997, 2009,2012, 2016 and 2023, 2025
Society of Animal Artists, USA, annual exhibition 2010 – 2017, 2025.
RSW – Royal Scottish Watercolour Society, 2009 – 2010,2012, 2018,2022-2023, 2025.
Scottish Royal Academy 1994.
Society of Wildlife Artists, London 1991, 2002,2009 – 2012, 2019
Northern Young Contemporaries, Manchester. 1976.
Sunday Times/Singer & Friedlander, London 1990.
MUSEUM COLLECTIONS
Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum, USA, ‘The Game Larder,’ 1994 and the ‘Wren’s Larder 2016. ‘Birds and Blossoms,’ 2025.
Nature in Art, Gloucestershire. ‘Forgiven Fruits.’
MEMBERSHIP OF SOCIETIES’
Artists for Conservation. Signature member 2012.
Society of Animal Artists, USA. Signature member 2009.
The Royal Scottish Watercolour Society membe