jo watters-pawlowski

Jo Watters-Pawlowski, an abstract landscape painter based in Ditchling, Sussex, UK, brings a unique perspective to her work. Her background in textile design has significantly shaped her approach to painting, influencing her understanding of form, proportion, colour, and mark-making. This design-oriented approach is a distinctive feature of her paintings.

Jo holds two solo shows a year at her Open House Gallery, No.37, 37 High Street, Ditchling. She creates a welcoming environment that invites visitors to immerse themselves in Jo's art and engage in conversations with her about her work and process.

Jo works with the ceramic artist Marija Bichan as part of an ongoing collaboration between the artist and ceramicist. A collection is only available at her venue, No.37, during the May Artist Open House, Ditchling Trail.

Artist Statement page will give you further insight into Jo's practice.

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.

Annual exhibitions:

MAY Brighton Artist s Open Houses every weekend and both Bank Holidays.

September Artwave Festival - No.37 Open House

WAC Collective wacartists.co.uk

Instagram page: @jowatterspawlowskiartist

Past Exhibitions

Tarpey Gallery Open2024 - Castle Donington

The Chair Gallery, Between the gap July 15th to 22nd, Hay-On-Wye

Spring Gallery, Cheltenham CONTRAST 5 to 9 October 2023

No37 High Street, Ditchling - Artwave Festival September 2023 Celebrate Cuckmere Haven: Wild Blue Spaces Exhibition for Artwave
Artist Open House at 37 High Street, Ditchling Trail 2023.

WAC Collaborative - 37 High Street, Ditchlng BN6 8SY 29th June PV open 30th June - 2nd July 2023
Spring Gallery WAC | Watters, Archer, Cowell-Contours a collaborative exhibition 2nd -5th March 2023
SPRING Cheltenham- Small Works Winter Show 2022
Selected group shows: 2018 - 2022
Hastings Open, Hastings Museum of Art - shortlisted (2022)
Regency House Selected for AoH 40th anniversary exhibition, 13 Brunswick Square, Hove
SPRING Cheltenham - ‘Small works show’ (2021), Montpellier Street, Cheltenham
Celebrate Cuckmere Haven South Hill Barn, Cuckmere Haven (2021)
Group Show - Lewes House, Lewes, Sussex (2019)
Gordon Dodds, London: mixed show (2019)
Nadia Waterfield Fine Art, The Autumn Hampshire Art Fair (2018)

Artist Open House: From 2007
Solo show - Artwave Festival Open Studio & Gallery, 37 High Street, Ditchling, Sussex
Solo show - Artist Open House, 37 High Street, Ditchling, Sussex
Easels ( four Women Artists) 37 High Street, Ditchling, Sussex.

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)
‘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 her full time teaching role she maintained her art practice. Following retirement Jo concentrates purely on developing a career as a painter.

This collection of landscape paintings evokes a feeling of being somewhere and nowhere. Bold gestures and colour lends abstraction to the image. Forms resemble familiar landmarks but are distorted, encouraging viewers to see beyond the obvious. These paintings have no noticeable skyline to challenge perception, blurring the line between reality and imagination. They prompt reflection on the subjective nature of experiencing the landscape of South Downs and further afield.

All work is professionally framed with bespoke hand-sprayed frame. The colour of the frame is carefully chosen to work in harmony with the white undertones detected in each piece.

Small paintings are a constant in my collection, often a compostion of an idea that can go on to form the bases of larger 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. Please DM for further information.

My paintings offer a unique perspective, evoking a feeling of being somewhere and nowhere, blurring the line between reality and imagination. The forms, though resembling familiar landmarks, are distorted, inviting viewers to see beyond the obvious. This approach allows gestural marks and colour to shape abstraction, reflecting the subjective nature of experiencing a landscape.

I aim to get into my studio daily, even if some days it's just to sit and have a coffee and sort stuff out. I prefer standing and working on the flat surface of a table or the floor, painting on various surfaces and sizes of canvas, wood panels, or paper. I work primarily with oil, and although this medium takes time to dry, it supports my painting method and mark-making techniques, such as cold wax, monoprint, and graphite.

I have a lovely collection of well-used painting tools, including palette knives, paint brushes, scrapers, and rubber squeegees. I use them in various ways, applying layers of paint or, at times, removing the paint to help generate impressions of depth, light, underlying textures, and shapes. These visual expressions capture a memory or moment of the landscape that inspired me. Expressing the emotional characteristics that define my work with integrity and transparency is often a challenging process.

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

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

Not all of my work is shown on my website.

Gallery at No.37 High Street, Ditchling BN6 8SY

Welcome to No37 High Street, a contemporary art gallery in the heart of Ditchling, East Sussex, nestled at the foot of the breathtaking South Downs. Every May & September, No37 High Street, transforms into a beautiful exhibition space. Contemporary artworks sit comfortably on the walls of this former bakery shop; visitors can enjoy meeting the artist Jo Watters-Pawlowski and looking at beautiful work.

Jo, owner and curator of No37 creates a relaxed art space for visitors to ponder, engage in conversation, and be confident when buying art. The gallery offers an opportunity to make artwork accessible to all and celebrate buying art direct from the artist.

No37 High Street celebrates the joy of living with art in your everyday lives.

2024 Exhibitions

MAY Artist Open House No37, High Street, Ditchling, BN6 8SY

JULY WAC Collective at The Chair , Hay-on-Wye with Nina Archer, and guests Peter Archer and Jacky Oliver

Monday, 16 July 2024 to Sunday, 21 July 2024. 11 - 5

Tarpey Gallery Open 2024: July 27th to September 8th Thursday to Sunday 10 - 5 pm

SEPTEMBER Artwave Festival, No37, High Street, Ditchling BN6 8SY SEPTEMBER: 7/8 14/15 21/22

For viewings at other times please email: jowp.art@gmail.com or call 07926 082345

2023 Exhibitions

SPRING Cheltenham WAC

Artist Open House - No.37 High Street, Ditchling

WAC | Watters, Archer & Cowel: Ditchling

ARTWAVE FESTIVAL 30th Anniversary

South Down Barn: Selected for Celebrate Cuckmere Haven: Wild Blue Spaces

SPRING Cheltenham WAC

December work selected for SPRING Cheltenham Small Works Show.

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

Paintings shown in 37 High Street and clients' homes.