A N D R E W J A M I E S O N
heraldic artist & manuscript illuminator
traditional craftsmanship, original design and over four decades of specialist practice.
established england 1983
Andrew Jamieson is one of the most respected, creative and original heraldic artists working in the world today. Personally chosen by His Majesty King Charles III to design the invitation for Their Majesties Coronation on May 6th, 2023. Andrew’s design studio established in 1983 is recognised globally for its exquisite, detailed and finely crafted artwork. Andrew uses skills that are steeped in centuries of tradition and working with only the best selected materials, vellum, goose and swan quills and 24 carat gold leaf he creates richly layered, high-quality, luxurious paintings, coats of arms, illuminated manuscripts and sumptuous bespoke tapestries for clients throughout the world, including America, Asia, Europe and the Middle East.
Andrew's personal approach ensures every detail of every painting and project is exquisitely realised. His studio’s spirit of dedication is to clients, meticulous attention to detail and creation of beautiful and unique artworks. Renowned for his luxury paintings and detailed tapestries his work graces the interiors of many fine houses and castles. Andrew’s artistic vision is unconstrained by convention, it is original and diverse. His breath-taking artworks range in scale and style and are so much more than just art, they are heirlooms inspired by centuries of tradition, designed to be enjoyed for generations.
Andrew trained for four years at art colleges. He attended Salisbury College of Art Pre B.A. Foundation in 1978 where he studied drawing, painting, sculpture and illustration. From 1980 until 1983 he trained in the specialist arts of heraldic painting, manuscript illuminating and calligraphy at Reigate School of Art where he was taught by Anthony Wood. That particular Reigate course closed in 1987.
Between 1983 to 1995 Andrew worked as a freelance heraldic artist for the College of Arms and since 1995 Andrew has taken commissions from around the world
Andrew was commissioned by His Majesty King Charles III to design the official invitation to the Coronation of their Majesties in 2023. His Majesty also commissioned him to produce the official bookplate for Her Majesty Queen Camilla. Previously in 2011 Andrew was invited to become a calligrapher and illuminator to the Crown Office, House of Lords, Palace of Westminster. He primarily produces Royal Letters Patent issued under the Great Seal of the Realm and has produced the letters patent creating Prince William Duke of Cambridge, Earl of Strathearn, Baron of Carrickfergus and the Prince of Wales. He also created the letters patent creating prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh
In 1997 he wrote and illustrated Coats of Arms for publishing house Pitkin. Andrew continues to take commissions for private, corporate and royal clients.
Andrew's story began in Bermondsey, South London in the early 1960's and until he was fourteen years old he lived with his parents and brother on council estates near Dagenham in Essex. It was a tough and diverse environment which proved to be a good grounding in surviving the inevitable knocks that came his way later in life, however not letting upsets get him down, he always picked himself up and carried on. That is his mindset. It made him determined to succeed by using the prejudice he faced in the heraldry world, to make him stronger. Andrew through sheer grit, hard work, determination and the support of family and friends during his four years of training at art schools and since, importantly has never forgotten who he is and his where he came from.
His love of history comes from his parents. His home was an oasis of calm, books, art and music. His father would take him for walks around London, to places like the Tower of London, Westminster Abbey. Temple Church and St. John's Clerkenwell and tell him in ways that fired Andrew's imagination, tales of merchants, knights, guilds, kings and people. He pointed out heraldry and his parents took him to museums where he looked in awe at illuminated manuscripts and medieval artifacts. His mother too was very creative and combined with seeing films like King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table, Ivanhoe, Robin Hood and the Black Shield of Falworth, at Saturday Morning Pictures, Andrew's love of chivalry, knights, medieval history and music developed.
He spent hours and hours drawing and copying from books, all he ever wanted for birthdays and Christmas were sketchbooks and pencils. He lost himself in a medieval world of knights, Heroes, beautiful ladies, colourful pageantry, mythological beasts, myths and legends. The passion was formed in that sanctuary from the concrete jungle, he called home and it has never left him. This has never been a "job", this is his life, an obsession, a quest for perfection, never satisfied, always developing his work and coupled with his innate sense of the history of this art.
Today he still finds the romantic notion of chivalry and knights in armour, captivating. It is still the core of inspiration for all his artworks. He has a deep love of the medieval history of England, social, religious, military and architectural and he likes to listen to music of the times. He loves the mythology and legends of England. Particularly Robin Hood and King Arthur. He now lives near Tintagel in North Cornwall where he finds the unique ancient and mysterious landscape not only a source of inspiration but also a place of contemplation. Andrew is married with two children and one dog. When not dreaming and imagining art he likes to cook, walk, read, listen to his eclectic collection of music and shoot his longbow.
