He has established a reputation as one of the leading exponents of restoration glass painting of all periods. He is an ICON accredited restorer and conservator, and is a regular contributor to conferences. He also runs highly acclaimed glass painting courses in the UK and elsewhere.
Though his output is relatively small, Jonathan is a well established artist in his own right: this is the second exhibition at Lotherton Hall to feature his work. The theme of 'Angels and Demons' is of particular interest to him, having previously explored it in various media from pen and ink to sculpture. It presents an opportunity to explore darkness and light, particularly in the medium of stained glass, and the complex relationship between good and evil. In many of the works depicting the struggle between these two forces, Jonathan melds the forms together in interesting and dynamic ways.
Although Jonathan's portrayals of angels and demons draw much inspiration stylistically from late medieval and renaissance works, they pose the viewer with serious contemporary questions and issues of materialism, celebrity and faith. In many of the stained glass exhibits, it is the colour and texture of the glass itself which forms a substructure and defines the character of the work as a whole. While most of the drawings in this exhibition represent an integral stage in the development of the stained glass works, they are also independent works in their own right, not only demonstrating the development of a later work, but showing the artist's thought development in the creative process.
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