Jethro Buck is a contemporary British painter whose work draws together the traditions of Indian miniature painting with close observation of the natural world. Working primarily with hand-ground mineral and earth pigments, Buck creates meticulously detailed paintings that celebrate landscape, flora and fauna through techniques rooted in centuries-old artistic practice.
Born in 1986, Buck studied Fine Art at Falmouth College of Arts before completing a Master's degree at The King's Foundation School of Traditional Arts (formerly The Prince's School of Traditional Arts), where he was awarded the Farjam Scholarship and, in 2014, the Ciclitira Prize for outstanding work, presented by the then Prince of Wales, now King Charles III.
A formative period spent in Jaipur, India, studying under master miniature painter Ajay Sharma profoundly shaped Buck's artistic practice. Supported by a grant from the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH), he immersed himself in every stage of the traditional process, from grinding minerals and semi-precious stones to create pigments to making brushes and preparing paper by hand. These techniques continue to underpin his work today, although his subjects are distinctly contemporary.
Buck's paintings are highly detailed, often depicting birds, trees, insects and woodland scenes using techniques inspired by Indian miniature painting. His work combines traditional craftsmanship with close observation of Britain's native landscape. Rather than recording nature simply as observed reality, Buck uses traditional techniques to explore humanity's relationship with the natural world. His paintings encourage slow looking, revealing intricate ecosystems and celebrating the interconnectedness of living things.
Represented by Crane Kalman Gallery in London, Buck has held a number of sell-out solo exhibitions, including Axis Mundi (2017), Golden (2022) and Nocturnes (2025). His work has also been exhibited at institutions including the British Library and the Aga Khan Centre, and acquired by private collections internationally. In 2026, his painting Soaring, created for the Artists for Kettle's Yard charity auction at Sotheby's, sold for £83,200 inc premium against an estimate of £8,000-12,000.
Images: Lead - With kind permission from the artist. Below (L-R): Jethro Buck, Evening Canopy, 2024. Photographer Alex Fox | Jethro Buck, Mumbai Moon, 2025 | Photograph of the artist by Elisabeth Deane | Jethro Buck, Golden Canopy
