Jonathan Hooper

Tree on Meanwood Park: Ash Fourth in a series of little paintings. No sooner had I finished this than the tree surgeons turned up on the park and pollarded it. That sort of thing happens to me surprisingly often - I have lots of paintings of buildings that were demolished soon after I painted them.

Trees on Meanwood Park: Cherry, Yew, Ash Small acrylic painting on board

The Royal Scottish Academy’s Annual Exhibition gave me a real lift today - the experience reminded me of my first arrival on my degree course and feeling overwhelmed at the sheer variety, quality, and inventiveness of the work going on around me. I didn’t take any photos apart from this one which includes my pieces. But the exhibition is simply stunning - if you can go, go - you won’t regret it.

Tree on Meanwood Park: young Oak From a recent set of four small paintings Acrylic on board, 30 x 41 cm

Tree on Meanwood Park: Yellow Poplar A recent small acrylic painting on board, one of a group of four.

These two paintings will be part of the Royal Scottish Academy’s 200th Annual Exhibition which starts on Saturday in Edinburgh and runs until 14th June - open each day, 10-5 (12-5 on Sundays). The RSA Galleries are on The Mound in the centre of Edinburgh, close to Waverley Station, the Scott Monument and the Princes Street Gardens, and the exhibition is always very inspiring. Lodge: Weetwood Villa Acrylic on canvas 30 x 41 cm 2025 Lodge: Headingley Castle Acrylic on canvas 51 x 76 cm 2025

This painting of houses in Meanwood valley will be on show next month in Redcar in the group exhibition Simulcast 3, which opens next Wednesday @redcar_contemporary with a preview on Saturday 9th - all welcome. The exhibition is organised by @rutheheaton and curated by Ruth and @k8jacob1 - thank you to them and to all the other artists for what has been a thoughtful and inspiring series of exhibitions. Details: Simulcast 3 is the third iteration of a series of contemporary group art exhibitions that started its journey in Sheffield in June 2025. Organised by Huddersfield based artist Ruth Heaton they bring together a group of studio based artists whose practice within it reflects the process of painting, drawing, expanded practice, and installation. There is no overarching thematic anchor point in the exhibitions. The title serves to reflect the diverse and eclectic nature of the work, with the curation process intending to find, and display, emerging relationships and interactions. Redcar Contemporary Art Gallery,13 West Terrace, Redcar, TS10 1DS Exhibition dates: 6th May -23rd May 2026 Exhibition Preview: Saturday 9th May 2.30-5pm (all welcome) Opening hours: 11am-4pm Wednesday-Saturday Curators: Ruth Heaton and Kate Jacob Admission: Free Artists: Emma Bennett/ Karl Bielik/ Stephen Carley/ Nan Collantine/ Bryan Eccleshall/ Alison Edmonds/ Loukas Georgiou/ Ruth Glasheen/ Robert Hall/ Cynthia Harrison-Orr/ Ruth Heaton/ Catherine Higham/ Jonathan Hooper/ Kate Jacob/ Helen Jones/ Jack Kettlewell/ Mikk Murray/ David Orme/ Bob Partridge/ Mandy Payne/ Gary Simmonds/ Jenny Sutton/ Helen Thomas/ Dominic Vince/ Kate Whateley/ Sean Williams/ Lynne Wixon @emma_bennett__ @karl_bielik @carley.stephen @nancollantine @bryaneccleshall @alisonedmondsart @loukas_georgiou @ruth.glasheen @rob_hall_painter_ @cynthiaharrisonorr @rutheheaton @catherine.higham @hooperpainter @k8jacob1 @helenruthjonesart @jack.kettlewell @mikkmurray @studio_orme @bobpartridgeart @mandypayne_97 @g.l.simmonds @jennysutton99 @helenthomasartist @dominicjvince @kate.whateley @swseanwilliams @lynnewixon

Four drawings of trees on Meanwood Park - swipe for individual pics Watercolour and coloured pencil on Fabriano Artistico HP paper, 28 x 38 cm

Paintings in progress - trees on Meanwood Park Acrylic on board

Spring trees on Meanwood Park, near my home - watercolour and coloured pencil

A couple of little paintings of ginnels from last year, that I’m framing for an exhibition - acrylic on board, 41 x 30 cm each

Four watercolour drawings from yesterday, semi-detached houses on Chapel Lane and looking up towards the rugby ground - I used to live in one of these when I was a student.