Jamie was born in Toronto and developed a connection and appreciation for the "natural landscape" spending summers in cottage country. University studies in ecology and landscape architecture provided a detailed knowledge of ecosystems and a unique perspective of the landscape from which Jamie now creates his expressive and realistic paintings. Jamie doesn't simplify the landscape and instead skillfully captures the remarkable detail and diversity. Concerned about the deterioration of our relationship with the landscape and the resulting degradation of ecosystems, Jamie aims to "rekindle" the viewer's appreciation for Nature. In this context, he acknowledges the potential of his paintings to inspire and educate with visual impact and conjure up special memories and even national pride.

"My primary goal is to capture both the tangible (visual) and intangible (emotional) qualities of the landscape in my paintings. When a painting elicits a positive response, I consider it a step towards strengthening and restoring our relationship with the landscape. This connection works towards an appreciation of the importance of maintaining high quality ecosystems."

Jamie pulls the viewer into the landscape to maximize the impact of a painting. First, he pushes the composition by situating elements such as trees or leaves immediately in the face of the viewer. Accommodating these foreground elements, interest and depth is created beyond them to pull the viewer through the trees and into the landscape. He builds the image in a slightly unconventional method by painting the foreground elements first and working into the landscape. By painting distant features, such as the sky, almost up to the foreground elements, the underpainting is left visible to outline every foreground leaf and tree. The underpainting is executed in red hues to contrast with the green hues of the landscape and create a visual energy that brings the painting to life.

Jamie's paintings often cause the viewer to exclaim that he or she could "walk right into the painting!"

Jamie paints in his home studio in picturesque downtown Guelph, less than an hour west of Toronto. His studio, always filled with music, is a fun hangout for his wife, three children, the family dog and the cat. Jamie's paintings have been accepted into important juried exhibitions such as the Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition and Toronto Art Expo and the well-known juried Guelph Studio Tour. His paintings are in numerous private collections throughout Canada, the United States and as far away as Italy and New Zealand.

SHOWS + EXHIBITIONS