Interview with Nathan Jones: Anglesey artist absorbed by painting

Nathan Jones first picked up a paint brush when he was seven years old and he hasn’t stopped painting since.

From irrepressible puffins to stunning Welsh landscapes, the Anglesey based artist has a distinct style which comes from his imagination and connection to the paint.

Nathan explains, “I start with a blank canvas and I have a basic subject matter in mind but the rest comes from my imagination. I let the painting take me rather than me take it, which is the most exciting part.

“I work in oil paints and I use a pallet knife a lot, as well as my hands. I don’t use brushes so much anymore, as I like to be in connection with the paint. I’ll also use anything I can from socks to old rags to cardboard to get different textures and movement. Socks are great actually as you just put your hand in and then you’ve got five different brushes!”

Nathan has recently given up his full-time job as a carer to pursue a career as an artist. He starts his day with a coffee and a few hours in the studio before he goes out to look for inspiration. “I base my paintings on sketches so I’ll go to loads of places and just sit and sketch.”

The rest of Nathan’s day and week is spent painting, apart from a regular Friday night gig when Nathan sings and plays bass in a band he’s been a member of since school.

While Nathan studied art at John Moores University, he’s developed his own way of working rather than follow in the footsteps of artists before him.

“I’ve always done my own thing, rather than being influenced by other artists, but it’s starting to come together.”

This year Nathan will join the Life:Full Colour stable of artists and will feature in pop-up events, as well as being an artist in residence at the Caenarfon gallery when it opens in Spring. 

“It’s really exciting. I’m incredibly passionate about my painting, I always have been.”