About the Artist

Jess grew up in the beautiful county of Sussex, England.  Showing a keen interest in art from a young age, her childhood memories are littered with images of the pictures she drew as she experimented with new subjects and mediums.  Always an animal lover at heart, Jess learnt to draw wildlife from her Farthing Wood Friends magazines (a must for any child in the 90s) and spent many afternoons sketching illustrations of the family pets. 

After studying art at high school, Jess followed her passion for travel and her artistic pursuits turned towards photography of the places she visited, which she would often turn into sketches and watercolours when she returned home.   Fulfilling a life long dream by relocating to Australia in her early twenties, Jess is now settled and raising her family in the suburbs of Perth, WA where she has returned her focus to pursuing both life and career as an artist. 

Grown-up Jess still enjoys exploring a variety of different mediums - and can often be found covered in pastel or ink, rolling out fondant or traipsing around Perth with her camera - but she is always drawn back to her easel and a world of paint brushes and canvas. She frequently pairs her favourite medium [acrylic paint] with a subject close to her heart - animal and pet portraiture. 

Working in realism, Jess uses a painterly style to capture the emotion and personality of her subjects, and the relationship between subject(s) and viewer.

Progression of an artist - selected works in various mediums,

from childhood through to current day (2020)

About the Studio Companions

No artist’s studio would be complete without a studio companion - especially not one whose subjects are the furbabies who bring us all so much joy!

Jess is lucky to have three such companions in her studio.  

Charlie - her three year old Sheltie - loves to curl up under Jess’s desk or easel while she works.  He is very good at making sure she takes breaks to give him tummy rubs or take him for walks, thus also providing inspiration for future paintings.

Wispa and Willow - two year old chocolate and lilac Burmese kittens - enjoy sunning themselves by the large studio windows, watching for birds, and occasionally trying to steal a paint brush or pencil when Jess isn’t looking.  

It is suspected that Willow wants to grow up to be an artist like her mum, as the stealing of supplies is mainly her area of expertise; Wispa would never do something so naughty!