Mention the name Seerey-Lester to a fan of wildlife art and
you'd more often than not get an excited response. The art
of John Seerey-Lester has had that effect on his following
since his entry on the art scene nearly thirty years ago.
Not only is his work recognized world-wide for his depiction
of large mammals and birds of prey, but his skill and
unmistakable style have become easily identifiable to art
fans, novices and experts alike. Before painting wildlife,
John painted figurative works and portraiture, which he
still undertakes. On his travels to different parts of the
world, he continues to do figurative work between his
wildlife paintings. World-renowned artist John Seerey-Lester
was born in Manchester, England, where he grew up with a
sketch book in hand. Receiving his first commission at the
early age of 13, John became a professional artist in 1974.
For some ten years prior to this, John was a journalist,
freelance writer, editor of several magazines and worked in
advertising and public relations in both the private sector
and local government in the UK. It was in 1980, after
making his first trip to East Africa, that John began
painting images of the natural world. His respect for the
work of fellow English artist, David Shepherd, heavily
influenced his decision to travel to Africa and paint
wildlife. This became a turning point in his career.
In 1982 John moved to the United States. He signed with Mill
Pond Press the following year. Since then he has had some
300 limited edition prints published. Many of these have
sold out within days of release. Demand for his original
works has become stronger each year. John's images have
a mysterious and mystical appeal, directly related to
his ability to paint the unusual. His skill in painting
mist and snow, as evidenced in Polar Lookout, and
wildlife in subdued light, such as Out of the
Darkness Into the Light, or Dark Presence,
has created a demand for his ability as a painter that
has few rivals. Not many artists display the ability to
paint wildlife in all the natural elements. Seerey-Lester's
imaginative designs are always an anticipated aspect, as
experienced in a recent release of Full Moon Rising -
Leopard. Where else, but through his art, could you
see such a brilliant occurrence.
His paintings of the North
American grizzlies of Alaska are among the best of the
species - the limited edition prints of his first
offerings have long gone and are coveted. With his personal
ambition for first-hand experience, it's easy for
students to realize his acumen for capturing mood and
anatomical accuracy. John
has received many awards and much recognition for his
outstanding achievements in the field of wildlife art.
He was presented to His Royal Highness Prince Phillip
and was commended for his work in conservation. He has
been chosen to exhibit works in the prestigious Leigh Yawkey
Woodson Art Museum's "Birds in Art" and "Wildlife: An
Artist's View" shows each year since 1983, and his
paintings are in their permanent collection. He has also
displayed in several other museums such as the Gilcrease
Museum , the National Museum of Wildlife Art, and in
many other permanent collections such as Bennington
Center for the Arts and Nature in Art Museum. He is a
member of Oil Painters of America and is the Artist of
the Year at the Southeastern Wildlife Expo in Charleston
for 2004. John has traveled
all over the world in search of the magnificent wildlife
he portrays on canvas. He prefers to paint only wildlife
subjects he has seen first hand. He has traveled to most
parts of Canada, Alaska, China, Africa, Antarctica,
South and Central America, India and Nepal. A
book on his life and work was published by Mill Pond
Press and released in 1991. The book, Face to Face
with Nature: The Art of John Seerey-Lester, sold out
in 1995. A second book titled Impressions of India
and Nepal, based on his fieldwork there, was
published soon after. His latest book, Painting
Wildlife with John Seerey-Lester, was released early
this year and is available through all good bookshops,
galleries and directly from John Seerey-Lester.
As
well as being widely regarded as an artist, John is an
excellent teacher and has taught at Disney Animation
studios. John's workshops and
Master Classes have become a success because he not
only teaches students in a classroom setting; he works
with them in the field. As a teacher, he paints
alongside students and allows them to learn directly
from him. John has a way of taking neither his work nor
himself too seriously; thus he conveys information in an
interesting and sometimes humorous fashion. As one
workshop student put it, "I've never learned so much,
and simultaneously had so much fun, in all my
educational experiences."
Mention the name Seerey-Lester to a fan of wildlife art and
you'd more often than not get an excited response. The art
of John Seerey-Lester has had that effect on his following
since his entry on the art scene nearly thirty years ago.
Not only is his work recognized world-wide for his depiction
of large mammals and birds of prey, but his skill and
unmistakable style have become easily identifiable to art
fans, novices and experts alike. Before painting wildlife,
John painted figurative works and portraiture, which he
still undertakes. On his travels to different parts of the
world, he continues to do figurative work between his
wildlife paintings. World-renowned artist John Seerey-Lester
was born in Manchester, England, where he grew up with a
sketch book in hand. Receiving his first commission at the
early age of 13, John became a professional artist in 1974.
For some ten years prior to this, John was a journalist,
freelance writer, editor of several magazines and worked in
advertising and public relations in both the private sector
and local government in the UK. It was in 1980, after
making his first trip to East Africa, that John began
painting images of the natural world. His respect for the
work of fellow English artist, David Shepherd, heavily
influenced his decision to travel to Africa and paint
wildlife. This became a turning point in his career.
In 1982 John moved to the United States. He signed with Mill
Pond Press the following year. Since then he has had some
300 limited edition prints published. Many of these have
sold out within days of release. Demand for his original
works has become stronger each year. John's images have
a mysterious and mystical appeal, directly related to
his ability to paint the unusual. His skill in painting
mist and snow, as evidenced in Polar Lookout, and
wildlife in subdued light, such as Out of the
Darkness Into the Light, or Dark Presence,
has created a demand for his ability as a painter that
has few rivals. Not many artists display the ability to
paint wildlife in all the natural elements. Seerey-Lester's
imaginative designs are always an anticipated aspect, as
experienced in a recent release of Full Moon Rising -
Leopard. Where else, but through his art, could you
see such a brilliant occurrence.
His paintings of the North
American grizzlies of Alaska are among the best of the
species - the limited edition prints of his first
offerings have long gone and are coveted. With his personal
ambition for first-hand experience, it's easy for
students to realize his acumen for capturing mood and
anatomical accuracy. John
has received many awards and much recognition for his
outstanding achievements in the field of wildlife art.
He was presented to His Royal Highness Prince Phillip
and was commended for his work in conservation. He has
been chosen to exhibit works in the prestigious Leigh Yawkey
Woodson Art Museum's "Birds in Art" and "Wildlife: An
Artist's View" shows each year since 1983, and his
paintings are in their permanent collection. He has also
displayed in several other museums such as the Gilcrease
Museum , the National Museum of Wildlife Art, and in
many other permanent collections such as Bennington
Center for the Arts and Nature in Art Museum. He is a
member of Oil Painters of America and is the Artist of
the Year at the Southeastern Wildlife Expo in Charleston
for 2004. John has traveled
all over the world in search of the magnificent wildlife
he portrays on canvas. He prefers to paint only wildlife
subjects he has seen first hand. He has traveled to most
parts of Canada, Alaska, China, Africa, Antarctica,
South and Central America, India and Nepal. A
book on his life and work was published by Mill Pond
Press and released in 1991. The book, Face to Face
with Nature: The Art of John Seerey-Lester, sold out
in 1995. A second book titled Impressions of India
and Nepal, based on his fieldwork there, was
published soon after. His latest book, Painting
Wildlife with John Seerey-Lester, was released early
this year and is available through all good bookshops,
galleries and directly from John Seerey-Lester.
As
well as being widely regarded as an artist, John is an
excellent teacher and has taught at Disney Animation
studios. John's workshops and
