Ever since I can remember I have used my hands to create; at times it all most feels like an obsession, as my thought's are always with what can I create next...
I have been painting for over 25 years - exhibiting in more than 25 solo shows since 1993 both in Australia & Internationally. I have painted and made sculptures, for a majority of those years, as well as teaching art, and being involved in a thriving art business in Byron Bay for 15 years. I work predominantly in acrylics, spray paint, ink and pencil. I have been living on the North Coast of NSW, since moving here from the UK in 1993. I graduated with an honours degree in Fine Art in 1992 and a teaching degree degree in 1996, and since then I have been very active in the Arts. Prior to study, I always created, using, using my hands to understand the medium and subject.
My artwork has been always directly linked or inspired by my surroundings! For many years I painted portraits and was known for my dog images and animal icons. At that stage, I had my own art gallery in Byron Bay and was exhibiting at many galleries throughout Australia. In recent years however and by a swift move and relocation, I have found myself in a tropical wonder, birds at the door and they are many and varied, from Magpies, Bush Turkeys and a frequently visiting Cat Bird. I now have the space and time to take long walks with my Staffador and breathe in the landscape that I find myself in, and paint full time.
On these walks I am able to spot nature in its bloom, 'I have time to smell the flowers', and to paint what I find or see along the way. It's is in this essence, that I hope to portray the beauty of the Australian Bush and the tropical wonder that I finally have the chance to embrace, everyday.
At the early age of 7, I was lucky enough to go to Spain from the UK - I still remember stepping off the plane and being soaked by the warmth of the air, with palm trees, creating giant umbrella sweeps in the sky!! It was then I knew that I would live in a place that would encapsulate my childhood memory. It takes time to settle in your surroundings, when life is very busy and takes you here and there; but to stop and experience the feeling again, many years later, is like a whole new world opening, one that was there, but was forgotten, or put on hold for a while.
My hopes for the future, are to experience the freedom that nature offers and to transcend this ambience and feeling through the mark making and colours of my paintings.
"Jacqui's artwork has been published in Women's Weekly, Courier Mail, Art Almanac, Australian Art Collector, The Australian, Rake (Series 3), Time Out, Grazia, Sunday Telegraph, Sun Herald, Dog's Life Magazine, Gold Coast Bulletin, Kluster along with many others.