St Andrews is more than a view — Jonathan Koetsier

When I stand before a blank canvas, brush in hand, I am never just painting a "view."

If you look at my painting of the West Sands or the St Andrews Harbour, you might see the play of light on water; that specific, sharp Fife light that seems to cut through the greyest days. But for me, and for anyone who knows this corner of Scotland, the landscape is crowded with memories. It is a reference library of narratives, waiting to be pulled from the shelf and translated into oil.

The Colourist Connection: Kirkcaldy Galleries

Whenever I need some inspiration, I like to visit galleries. Kirkcaldy Galleries is one of those surprisingly unknown cultural assets in Scotland.

If you are a lover of Scottish art, they hold a collection of works by the Scottish Colourists, particularly S.J. Peploe, alongside the sweeping seascapes of William McTaggart.

Standing in front of a Peploe is an education in bravery. The Colourists didn't just record what they saw; they intensified it. They understood that the Scottish landscape isn't defined by the grey rain, but by the jewel-like tones that emerge when the sun breaks through.

That boldness is something I carry back to the studio. When I paint the rust-red rocks of the coast or the greens of the Old Course, I am trying to tap into that same lineage; using colour not just to describe a shape, but to evoke a feeling.

The Town as a Museum: Narratives in Stone

You cannot walk through St Andrews without tripping over history, and the town's museums are the vital key to unlocking it.

Institutions like the Wardlaw Museum on The Scores and the St Andrews Heritage Museum are not just repositories of artifacts. They hold the university’s 600-year history, chronicle the intricate lives of the fisherfolk who once crowded the harbour, and catalogue the ecclesiastical power that once made this town the religious capital of Scotland. They give us the backstory, the names, and the faces behind the stones.

But for a painter, the ultimate studio is still the streetscape itself. It is the place where those historical narratives come alive in light and shadow, where the lessons learned in the gallery are tested by the wind and the sea. The artifacts and images found within the museum walls provide the context and richness that I then look to evoke on canvas.

The Cathedral Ruins: When I paint the skyline, those jagged spires aren't just architectural features; they are a story of rise and ruin. The museums teach us about the Reformation that tore through this town, and those broken skeletons against the sky then become powerful visual symbols of change and endurance.
The Harbour: This isn’t just a place for boats. Thanks to the exhibits on local life and medieval trade routes, I know I'm painting a site that once connected Scotland to the continent, where generations of fishing families lived, died, and endured. When I paint the harbour walls, I’m thinking of that resilience and the countless lives that depended on them in this beautiful place.

Painting the Narrative

When you buy a painting of St Andrews, you aren't just buying a depiction of a place. You are buying a slice of time and library of personal memory.

For me, that library is filled with family memories, times walking and chatting on the coast, and all the years I've spent studying the light. For a former student, the painting becomes a crucial physical reminder of that transformative time: the intense study, the friendships made, and the personal growth that happened as the years passed. For visitors, it's an anchor to the trip they took here. And for those who live here, it holds the countless, everyday memories of simply being in this beautiful place.

My goal is that when you look at one of my oil paintings hanging in your home, you don't just see the sea. I want you to feel the layering of time and your own experiences in the waves. I want the brushstrokes to suggest the collective stories of the town, yes, but also the specific, personal chapters embedded in the stones of the Pier or the cobbles of Market Street.

Explore the collection

If you are interested in owning a painting of St Andrews, view my latest available works in the St Andrews Gallery or contact me to discuss a commission.