Jonathan Rout was born in Dunedin, New Zealand in 1939, and received his early Auckland University for three years until deciding that he would prefer a career in the arts. He left New Zealand for Australia in 1967 to study jewelry making, photography, theater, and music. In 1970, he left Australia for Canada, traveling overland through Southeast Asia, India, Russia Europe.

In the early 1970’s, while Jonathan was completing his degree at the University of British Columbia, he was also designing and creating jewelry and had numerous outlets in Vancouver. He began teaching drama, music, graphic arts, and photography on Vancouver Island, BC Canada in 1974. In the years that followed, he produced and directed many musicals and plays, ran a successful program in graphic design, and established a thriving photography program. During these years, the design and manufacture of jewelry remained an important interest and has now become his main focus.

His retirement from teaching in 1997 was the beginning of his present relationship with The Old School House Arts Center, in Qualicum Beach, BC where he currently has his studio. He works in silver producing individual and contemporary pieces.