jo watters-pawlowski

Jo Watters-Pawlowski is a British abstract landscape painter based in Ditchling, Sussex. Her background in textile design and print has been pivotal in her unique approach to landscape painting. She composes each painting to create a portrait of a landscape, often playing with perspective to distort the obvious. Drawing on the natural rhythms, patterns and forms, Jo's intuitive use of colour connects her artist's eye to focus on the often-overlooked details within a landscape.

Jo holds two solo shows yearly at No.37 her open house gallery, 37 High Street, Ditchling. There, she creates a welcoming environment, inviting visitors to immerse themselves in her art and engage in conversations to gain further insights into her practice. Jo's work is in private collections in the USA, Europe, Australia, and the UK.

In collaboration with artist Nina Archer, Jo co-founded WAC (Watters Archer Collective), a core group of two contemporary landscape painters who 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.

Annual exhibitions:

JANUARY: Fresh: Art Fair Alexander Palace, London

MAY: No.37 Brighton Artists Open Houses every weekend and Bank Holidays.

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 - FRESH Art Fair - Alexander Palace, London. January 30th - February 1st. More information to follow.

MAY 2026 - ARTISTS OPEN HOUSE Weekends in May: 2/3 /4 9/10 16/17 23/24/25

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SEPTEMBER 2025 Artwave 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.

Initially, my training and professional career as a textile designer and surface printer helped shape a style and approach to painting. Using my visual understanding of form, proportion, colour, and mark-making, informed my skills as an abstract landscape painter. I manipulate the landscape's perspectives, playing with the horizon and exaggerating natural patterns, rhythmic forms, lines and colour to create a vision of a landscape.

The process is meticulous and deliberate, drawing on references from sensory observations and studies, using materials such as charcoal, ink, and/or paint to map simple lines and make colour notes. In the studio, I instinctively use pink or red oil paint with charcoal to lay down initial ideas and establish a painting's foundation. Oil paint is the preferred medium because of the fluidity it offers me and the process of colour mixing, which I love. I work by building up several layers of paint with gestural marks to capture the subtle nuances of shape, colour, and form. The extended drying time of oil paint helps me assess and reflect on my progress. As each painting can take several weeks to complete, I create art on different surfaces and in various sizes, including canvas, wood panels, and paper. This variety shows the flexibility of my work. Working on multiple pieces at once adds depth to my artistic process, reveals surprising connections, and highlights the endless possibilities of abstract expression.

Emailjowp.art@gmail.com to ask about specific paintings or call 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.