Sebastian Edmund Shead is an oil painter from North Yorkshire, England, now based in London. He completed a BA in Fine Art at Bath Spa University from 2021 to 2024, where he dedicated his studies to the methods and materials of the Old Masters.

During this time, he developed a practice rooted in traditional technique, using these approaches to create thoughtful, melancholic paintings inspired by painters such as Rembrandt and Titian.

After completing his degree, Sebastian was awarded two years of tuition at Heatherley's School of Fine Art in Chelsea Harbour. Founded in 1845, Heatherley's has a long history of artistic training, with former students including Rossetti, Burne-Jones and Lord Frederic Leighton. Unlike many contemporary art schools in the Western world, Heatherley's remains focused on observational painting and drawing directly from the model. Sebastian considers painting from life a fundamental part of his practice.