Jonathan Pike
(b. 1949)
Winner of the 2009 Royal Watercolour Society Competition, Jonathan Pike is widely acknowledged to be one of the finest architectural painters of his generation.
Pike studied at the Central School of Art and Design and at Falmouth School of Art where he was taught by Francis Hewlett and Robert Organ. After graduating in 1971 he spent many years travelling and painting in Italy, Spain and France before settling in London. It was here that the urban landscape became the dominant subject of his painting.
Pike specialises in views of cities, however it was his exquisite Venetian scenes that first attracted a firm following amongst collectors worldwide. On visit to Venice in 1989 he became captivated by the city and began to paint it. He has returned on many occasions and has gained a reputation for his ability to capture the atmosphere and light of this unique city.
Jonathan's attention to architectural heritage and the decay of manmade objects is perfectly articulated in his work, from a classical structure in Venice to a British coastal scene. Texture and light are brought together to create dramatic renderings where attention to detail contributes to the passion and emotion of the scene.
Jonathan's work is widely collected in the United Kingdom and the United States. In England he has shown at the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition, the Whitechapel Open, The Discerning Eye, the Gavin Graham Gallery and the Richard Hagen Gallery.