A  B  O  U  T

Jo Thorne is a British contemporary painter based in rural Bristol. She received a BA Hons in Fine Art from University Hertfordshire in 1998 and for many years worked as a jeweller and press officer whilst practising art on the side. In recent years, Jo took the plunge to become a full time artist and has exhibited in various galleries and numerous exhibitions across the South West region. Her work celebrates freedom and nature, with a focus on the liminal space that lies between physical and imaginary worlds. Most recently, Jo’s paintings were featured in the 'Apertures of Dreams' Exhibition at The Brownston Gallery and the 'Spring into Summer' exhibition at The Heritage Courtyard Gallery and she is currently working on an experimental body of work for a solo show 'A Sip of Nectar' at the Roper Gallery, Bath. 

“The ultimate aim of my work is to take the viewer on a journey to a paradoxical world where tangible elements from physical surroundings meet fantasy. I aim to trigger an emotional response through the use of vibrant colour, movement and a focus on the pits and troughs of light. I start by working from sketches, but once the general composition is underway, I stop referring to the initial drawing and work meditatively along to music, allowing the painting to grow spontaneously. The music heavily influences the process and I believe brings a sense of energy and poetry to the painting. I want the finished piece to feel like a melody on canvas, reflecting my own feeling of freedom when immersed in painting and music, but also offering the viewer a sense of escapism by transporting them to a mythical realm.

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