Jonathan Oakes is an experienced artist who specialises in painting and drawing. The majority of his artwork is abstract and has been described as having an organic, expressive style with intricate elements. When he paints he uses acrylics, adding various media when necessary such as conte crayon, oil pastels and ball point pen. His works are typical produced on large photographs, paper and canvas.
The general theme behind Jonathan’s work is rooted in environmental influences and explores the contrasts between a natural existence and a synthetic unnatural environment that many of us find ourselves living in.
Born in 1969 he spent his formative years in Sheffield, U.K., and would spend much of his leisure time walking for hours in the Peak District, filling up on the rugged landscapes. A contrast to the dark, industrial environments he frequented daily as a welder.
In 1998 he graduated from university with a degree in Visual Art and Professional Media. After 3 years of painting, ceramics, art history, photography and video art as well as many other adventures. He continued to exhibit his artwork in galleries for the next few years. While working as a freelance Graphic Designer. In 2001 he completed a Master’s Degree in Electronic Media. He then channelled his creative energies into producing original digital music. However all that digital despair did not replace the effort and joy of physically painting and drawing. He now is a full time Artist and lives with his wife and children in Tewkesbury, U.K.