About

Biography

Jonathan Hooper is a painter based in Leeds. He grew up in the Chilterns, and studied at Bucks College of Higher Education, Falmouth School of Art and Design, and the University of Leeds. 

His subject is the built landscape of the city of Leeds, in particular the residential architecture of the suburbs to its north-west.

He was one of the five artists in the touring exhibition Where We Live (2021-2023), and was shortlisted for the Jackson's Painting Prize in 2023. 

Statement

My twin subjects are colour, and the built landscape of Leeds. 

I walk and take photographs each day. From these I explore colour and composition using watercolour on paper, before making paintings in oil. Each series of paintings has a similar colour approach and emotional atmosphere: this comes partly from the original subject and my feelings about it; but it is partly developed independently in the studio, as I develop my pictorial ideas. 

I am not trying to replicate the subject as it appears in particular weather, at a particular time, on a particular day: but to show how it really is, how it feels, how it is in memory or imagination. 

Jonathan Hooper, March 2024

Selected recent exhibitions 

Solo exhibitions 

Group exhibitions 

Open exhibitions 

Reviews

Awards

Interviews