Jonathan Wylder

Jonathan Wylder

Jonathan Wylder was born in Salisbury, Wiltshire in 1957. He held his first one-man show of paintings in Salisbury City Library in 1973 where Sir Cecil Beaton was his first patron, but he didn’t begin to sculpt until he was in his early thirties. Jonathan’s sculpture has since achieved great critical and artistic acclaim and recognition both nationally and internationally. Jonathan has always been inspired by the beauty of the human form, sculpting mainly in clay, before having his work cast into bronze using the traditional lost wax process. He is especially inspired by dance and has shown his appreciation for this subject in his sculptural work with dancers from a variety of ballet companies, including Fiona Chadwick, former principal with the Royal Ballet. A keen rider himself, horses have also been a source of inspiration, the most notable being the life-size bronze statue of Milton, international show jumper, ridden by John Whitaker. Amongst Jonathan’s many prestigious commissions is his creation of a five-metre high bronze monument for London’s Belgrave Square, commissioned by the Duke of Westminster to commemorate the first Marquis of Westminster. Another notable life-size sculpture by Jonathan was commissioned by the Scotsman Newspaper and was unveiled in Edinburgh by Her Majesty The Queen. The Greek God, Atlas was the subject of a life-size portrait that stands over four metres in height, commissioned by Mr Anton Bilton to celebrate the new millennium. This is now placed at Tyringham Hall. Possibly his most moving creation is the life sized memorial portrait of Mother Teresa that was unveiled in Calcutta by the Governor of Calcutta at the Sisters of Mercy Convent. It has received and continues to receive thousands of visitors. In 2008, Jonathan worked with Olympic swimmer, Sharron Davies OBE, who inspired the creation of a magnificent eight-foot long sculpture of a mermaid. A bronze version of this graces the Royal Yacht Squadron based in Cowes on the Isle of Wight Jonathan’s most recently completed project is a life-size portrait of Yasmin le Bon. The partnership of artist and muse has resulted in the creation of a work of art Jonathan considers to be his best to date.

Jonathan Wylder