Virtual Art Tour

John Seerey-Lester, English

What Lies Ahead

Tiger Study

Zwauti-Leopard

Gorilla Stand - Silverback

Wolong Village - Panda

Dawn's Early Light

The Sacred Child of Sichaun

Dark Presence

World-renowned wildlife artist John Seerey-Lester was born in Manchester, England where he grew up with a sketchbook in hand. Receiving his first commission at the early age of 13, Seerey-Lester became a professional artist in 1974. Initially, he painted portraits and nostalgic scenes of English urban life.

It was in 1980, after making his first trip to East Africa, that Seerey-Lester began painting images of the natural world. His respect for the work of fellow English artist David Shepherd heavily influenced his decision to travel to Africa and paint wildlife. This became a turning point in his career.

In 1982 Seerey-Lester moved to the United States. He signed with Mill Pond Press the following year. Since then he has had some 250 limited edition prints published. Many of these have sold out within days of release. Demand for his original works has become stronger each year.

Seerey-Lester has received many awards and much recognition for his outstanding achievements in the field of wildlife art. He was presented to Prince Phillip and was commended for his work in conservation. He has been chosen to exhibit works in the prestigious Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum’s “Birds in Art” and “Wildlife: An Artist’s View” each year since 1983. Seerey-Lester has traveled all over the world in search of the magnificent wildlife he portrays on canvas, because he prefers to paint only wildlife subjects he has seen firsthand. He has traveled to most parts of Canada, Alaska, China, Africa, Antarctica, South and Central America, India, and Nepal. A book on his life was published by Mill Pond Press and released in November 1991. The book, Face to Face with nature: the Art of John Seerey-Lester, sold out in 1995.

As well as being widely recognized as an artist, Seerey-Lester is an excellent teacher. His workshops have become a success because he not only teaches students in a classroom setting; he works with them in the field. As a teacher, Seerey-Lester paints alongside students and allows them to learn directly from him. Seerey-Lester has a way of taking neither his work nor himself too seriously; thus he conveys information in an interesting and sometimes humorous fashion. As one workshop student puts it, “I’ve never learned so much, and simultaneously had so much fun, in all my educational experiences.”

In January 2000, Seerey-Lester married fellow wildlife artist, Suzie Zimos, and they now live in Florida.