Jamie Wilson is an artist based in Sligo, in the West of Ireland.

Born in Wiltshire, England in 1978, I first discovered my flair for art in primary school during a class project on historical scenes. I wowed my teachers with a detailed drawing of the Greek hero Theseus confronting the Minotaur in the labyrinth, an early sign of my creative passion. In secondary school, my art teacher would get so excited by my work that he’d enthusiastically tap me on the shoulder, exclaiming, “This is brilliant!”

​Always creatively inclined, I pursued art at college while also playing drums in a rock band, performing in pubs and music venues. Like many bands, we eventually parted ways due to creative differences, which led me to explore acting. I trained for a couple of years at ITV’s Television Workshop, which opened doors to appearances on British TV programs such as The Get Rich Project (various roles), Judge John Deed, Casualty, and a few music videos.

Alongside my creative pursuits, I trained as a carpenter, which allowed me to work on projects for Channel 4’s Grand Designs and even bring one of Leonardo da Vinci’s famous, never-built inventions to life: a super-sized crossbow for Channel 4’s Dream Machines. This achievement may well make me the only artist in history, aside from da Vinci himself, to complete one of his designs.

My paintings have been exhibited in several galleries across the UK and appeared in the Salisbury Journal. My work was also exhibited at the national trust at Avebury, Wiltshire.

In March 2024, my family and I moved to the west of Ireland, near the famous Wild Atlantic Way, immediately falling in love with its wild landscapes, rolling hills, and the slower, more grounded pace of rural life. Living the rural dream, I now paint vibrant landscapes from my home studio in the Ox Mountains, drawing inspiration from Ireland’s natural beauty and the sense of peace that comes from being surrounded by it.