Jon Canty is a contemporary British visual artist based in Edinburgh, Scotland whose creative practice focuses on themes such as dystopia, urban decay and the human condition.

 

Jon's work is typically representational with a narrative aspect and his repertoire has included figurative work and architectural townscapes through to total abstraction. His most commonly chosen media is acrylic paint on canvas with less frequent use of oil paints and other surfaces for some series. 

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Over the last ten years, Jon has pushed his artistic career forward whilst balancing this endeavour with a career in town planning. After moving to Edinburgh in 2016, he engaged in study to develop his practise to a deeper level, which included an Art Foundation Course at Edinburgh College, followed by two years part time study in painting at the Leith School of Art.

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Jon has participated in group shows in Edinburgh and across the UK. He has had several solo exhibitions, including 'Forgotten Realms' in October 2022 and ‘Utopia Banished’ in March 2020 both at the Coburg House Gallery, Edinburgh as well as 'Order vs. Chaos' in 2016 at the Studio Flamingosaurus Rex Gallery in 2016. He has work in private collections in the UK, Germany, the USA and Australia.

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Originally from Bedfordshire, Jon has lived in London and Nottingham as well spending time in Thailand. He is a life long fan of heavy metal music and this, alongside a love of horror films, forms part of the inspiration for his work. Inspiration from the art world itself includes the likes of Francis Bacon, Peter Doig, Edward Hopper, Victoria Crowe, Daniel Pitin and Hughie O'Donoghue.