For Jonathan Shearer, painting the Scottish landscape is as much about experiencing it as it is about capturing it. His latest solo exhibition, Northern View, brings together a new body of powerful, expressive oil paintings that reflect his instinctive approach and profound connection with Scotland’s wild landscapes.
Renowned for painting en plein air in some of Scotland’s most remote and challenging locations, Jonathan goes to extraordinary lengths to experience these places first hand. From exposed mountain ridges to rugged Atlantic coastlines, his bold, gestural brushwork and richly textured oils convey the exhilaration and sheer physicality of being immersed in the natural world.
For Northern View, Jonathan has taken a slightly different approach, revisiting sketchbooks from earlier painting expeditions while finding fresh inspiration closer to home. Returning to places he knows intimately, he explores their changing character throughout the seasons, alongside the wild, exposed coastlines of northern Scotland. Whether drawing on familiar surroundings or memories of more remote locations, his paintings retain the same vitality, spontaneity and immediacy that define his work.
Central to Jonathan’s practice is a fascination with paint itself and its endless expressive possibilities. Embracing experimentation, spontaneity and the unexpected, he creates richly layered works that develop a character and life of their own.
With their remarkable depth, texture and physical presence, Jonathan’s paintings truly need to be seen in person to be fully appreciated. We warmly invite you to join us at Strathearn Gallery in Crieff from Saturday 7 November 2026 for Northern View, an opportunity to experience this exceptional new collection and the individuality of Jonathan’s distinctive painting style first hand.
