Hello...

Welcome to my website!
I'm Jo, and making art has been a significant part of my life for as long as I can remember. Being creative allows me to make sense of the world and to connect with my surroundings. 

I am a mixed media artist who is drawn to textiles and embroidery - the tactile nature of this medium is especially satisfying and the potential for experimentation is endless. Stitching is also a very powerful form of expression. I also experiment with paper, wood, paint, ink and print. My passion for both ancient and contemporary arts and crafts was ignited when working in different countries - and now based in Ireland, I am surrounded by great art and craft traditions.  I am grateful for this and I am passionate about passing on any knowledge I’ve gathered along the way. 

Nature's intricate details never cease to captivate me, and both the wild environment and human nature serve as constant sources of inspiration. My recent work often revolves around the moments of connection and disconnection we experience with the wilderness, exploring the essence of what it means to be wild. I'm deeply intrigued by the adaptation and interconnectedness of organisms and the cycles of life and death they embody. These gigantic themes of life and death stitch my work together – as without death and decay, there is no life. I also aim to celebrate the diversity of life and our collective need to protect it. 

My experiences in wildlife rescue, rehabilitation, and horticulture have allowed me to observe wildlife closely and to work with plants and ecosystems. I make a conscious effort to incorporate organic materials into my art, using plants I've grown or objects I've gathered. Whenever possible, I also embrace the use of repurposed materials – particularly used clothing. The material carries a rich history with it of both the previous wearer and the creators of both the garment, the textile surface design, and the fabric, which adds to my work.

With an arts background in teaching English and Drama, I remain captivated by character, motivation, and plot, which find their way into my creations. The portrayal of the wild in history, myth, and folklore really intrigues me. Poetry, written word, and the visual properties of text also serve as potent sources of inspiration. There also tends to be a darkness and light to my work, echoing the Victorian gothic - the shadows are meant to speak in my art. 

My influences are numerous. They include: Alexander McQueen, Louise Bourgeois, Sheila Hicks, Xenobia Bailey, Michelle Carragher, Gabriel Pacheco, Jean Draper, Lotte Reineger, Nick Cave, Chiharu Shiota, Aubrey Beardsley and Iris van Herpen.