jo watters-pawlowski

Jo Watters-Pawlowski is a British abstract landscape painter based in Sussex. Her approach to landscape painting is influenced by her training as a textile designer, which has enhanced her skills in colour, design, mark making, and composition. Jo lives in Ditchling, a village at the foot of the South Downs in Sussex. She draws inspiration from the often-overlooked details and playful elements of this familiar landscape to inform her abstract artwork.

As an independent artist, Jo holds two solo exhibitions each year at her Open House gallery, located at No. 37 in Ditchling, East Sussex. Her artwork is in private collections in the UK, USA, Europe, Asia, and Australia. Jo co-founded the WAC | Watters Archer Collective with artist Nina Archer. They exhibit together in galleries across the UK

Email jowp.art@gmail.com to ask about specific paintings, or arrange a studio visit. Not all the paintings are priced, please ask directly.
Individual art consultations are welcome.

2026 exhibitions:

JANUARY: Fresh: Art Fair Alexander Palace, London

MAY: No.37, 37 High Street, Ditchling BN6 8SY Brighton Artists Open Houses‍ ‍May: 2/3/4 9/10 16/17 23/24/25

SEPTEMBER: Artwave Festival - No.37 Open House

WAC Collective wacartists.co.uk

Instagram page: @jowatterspawlowskiartist

Past Exhibitions

JANUARY 2025: Fresh: Art Fair, alexander Palace, London

MAY 2024 No.37 gallery, 37, High Street, Ditchling, BN6 8SY

JULY 2024 WAC Collective,Hay-on-Wye

Tarpey Gallery Open 2024

SEPTEMBER 2024 Artwave Festival,

SPRINGCheltenham 2023 WAC Artists

WAC Artists No.37, Ditchling, East Sussex BN6 8SY

ARTWAVE FESTIVAL 30th Anniversary 2023

2023 Selected for Celebrate Cuckmere Haven: Wild Blue Spaces

SPRING Cheltenham Small Works Show 11 - 31 December 2023

The Regency town House, 40th aniversary Artists Open Houses, 13 Brunswick Square, Hove BN3 1EH 12-29 May 2022

Group Show - Lewes House, Lewes, Sussex (2019)
Gordon Dodds, London: mixed show (2019)
Nadia Waterfield Fine Art, The Autumn Hampshire Art Fair (2018)

Selected Contemporary Design Show: 1982 - 1994
The Direct Design Show: Chelsea Old Town Hall, London. The Direct Design Show, Kensington Town Hall, London
Contemporary Interior Design Show, Business Design Centre, Islington,London
The Direct Design Show, Royal Horticulture Halls, Westminster, London
Contemporary Textile Design Show, Orangery, Holland Park, London - representing the Chartered Society of Designers (formally Society of Industrial Artists)
The Society of Illustrators Artists & Designers - DipSIAD, London Society of Designer Craftsman London (LSDC), London

Projects and commissions 2003 - 2022
Westray, Orkney, oil on board - 2022
Hay Bluff, Hay on Wye, Hereford, oil painting- 2022
Allasdale Bay, Barra, Outer Hebrides, Oil on canvas, John Brockliss, Brighton (2019)
‘Composition’ oil and gold leaf on paper, La Grande Maison d’Athenay, Saumur, France (2014)

2012 - 2015 Trustee for ONCA, a Brighton based arts charity that bridged social and environmental justice issues with creativity.

‘Zoom’ Art & Jazz collaboration with musician Herbie Flowers: painting workshops & live jazz at several venues across Sussex. (2000 to 2005)
’The colour of music’ acrylic on paper, painting based on Richard Strauss’s instrumental work ‘Metamorphosen’ for Herbie Flowers, musician, Sussex (2003)
Koestler Arts - Presentation and Lecture on ‘Therapeutic Importances of Art, Education, and Mental Health in Secure Units’ Royal Festival Hall, London (2011, 2013, 2016)
‘Trauma and the value of art’ - Case study presentation, National Conference for Occupational Therapy, Harrogate Convention Centre, Harrogate, North Yorkshire (2004)

History: Jo was born in Ghana, West Africa, and spent her childhood living in West Africa, the Middle East, and Thailand. Jo studied textile design at Worthing College of Art & Design and Winchester School of Art; after graduating, she set up a textile and surface print studio in Sussex (1984 to 1996) as a freelance textile designer and fabric printer. Jo worked for interior designers, stylists and private clients. She exhibited at interior design shows in the UK and Europe and sold designs through her agent. Drawing and painting were the foundation of her design work, and later she transitioned to pure painting. Jo pursued a second career to train as a specialist teacher and arts educator, working in Secure Mental Health Services. Alongside a full time post she maintained her art practice. Since retirement Jo concentrates purely on her career as a painter.

JANUARY 2026: WAC | Watters Archer Collective ‍ ‍Stand B8 at FRESH Art Fair - Alexander Palace, London. 30 January - 1 February. Preview evening 29 January 5 to 9 pm

MAY 2026 - ARTISTS OPEN HOUSE No.37, 37 High Street, Ditchling BN6 8SY‍ Weekends in May: 2/3 /4 9/10 16/17 23/24/25. From 11 to 5

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SEPTEMBER 2025Artwave Festival, Open House Gallery No37 High Street, Ditchling BN6 8SY Weekends only 6th - 21st September Open 11 - 5

MAY 2025 The Space Between - TARPEY GALLERY Contemporary Fine Art 31st MAY - 20th JUNE www.tarpeygallery.com

MAY 2025 N0.37 Artists Open Houses, 37 High Street Ditchling, BN6 8SY

Fresh: Art Fair Alexandra Palace WAC Collective with guest artists 31 January - 2 February 2025 11.00 am - 6.00 pm

MAY 2024 N0.37 gallery, 37, High Street, Ditchling, BN6 8SY

JULY 2024 WAC Collective,Hay-on-Wye

Tarpey Gallery Open 2024

SEPTEMBER 2024 Artwave Festival,

SPRINGCheltenham 2023 WAC Artists

WAC Artists N0.37, Ditchling, East Sussex BN6 8SY

ARTWAVE FESTIVAL 30th Anniversary 2023

2023 Selected for Celebrate Cuckmere Haven: Wild Blue Spaces

SPRING Cheltenham Small Works Show 11 - 31 December 2023

The Regency town House, 40th aniversary Artists Open Houses, 13 Brunswick Square, Hove BN3 1EH 12-29 May 2022

Email: jowp.art@gmail.com
follow @jowatterspawlowskiartist
Contact: 07926 082354

https://aoh.org.uk/93389-2/ Ditchling Artist Jo Watters-Pawlowski Artists Open House 2022 Blog

My abstract landscape paintings draw inspiration from the real landscapes of the South Downs in Sussex. I interpret the emotion I feel toward this landscape. The paintings reveal how I have been influenced and what resonates with me when I observe them. I use oil paint to build up layers of texture, colour, and paint to interpret the shapes, patterns, roads, tracks, and edges found within the landscape, as well as sections that fade into abstraction.

All of my work is professionally framed in a bespoke frame. The frame's colour is carefully chosen to complement the undertones detected in each piece.

Small paintings are a staple in my collection, often representing an idea that can form the foundation for more extensive work.

All work is professionally framed in bespoke hand-sprayed wooden frames, finished colour, white or off-white matt.

Please DM for further information.

Work on paper using oil, inks, and other mediums. They are professionally framed in bespoke hand-finished frames using museum glass.

I have paper work unframed available.

Please DM for further information.

I trained as a textile designer and surface printer, and had a professional career in this field. These initial skills as a designer helped shape a style and approach I have adopted in painting. Drawing on a visual understanding of form, proportion, colour, and mark-making, I manipulate landscape perspectives to inform my abstract painting. Exaggerating natural patterns, rhythmic forms, lines, and colour to create my version of the landscape. The process draws on references from sensory observations and basic studies, using charcoal, ink, and/or paint to map simple lines and make colour notes.

In the studio, I use oil paint colour washes to roughly map out the foundation of a landscape painting. Using several different tools, with pallet knives, squeegees, brushes, and a pencil, making gestural marks that gradually capture the subtle nuances of the landscape's shape, colour, and form. The extended drying time of oil paint helps me assess, reflect, and if needs be, rework the progress. As each painting can take several weeks to complete, I use a selection of surfaces and sizes, including canvas, wood panels, and paper. Working on multiple pieces at once adds depth to my artistic process, reveals surprising connections, and highlights the endless possibilities of abstract expression.

Email: jowp.art@gmail.com to ask about specific paintings or call direct on 07926 082354 for any other enquiries.

To represent the interests of each client, I am happy to arrange art consultations and studio visits. 

Not all of my work is shown on my website.