Artist Jo Gray

Jo is a Nottingham-based artist with a creative journey that has taken a contemporary twist, focusing on the captivating world of animal portraits. She studied graphic design, specializing in illustration, at the prestigious Central Saint Martins. Jo embarked on her art career as a mural artist, creating artwork for theme parks and sports centres, as well as private commissions.

Despite her success as a muralist, Jo’s true passion remained in her love for animals. This, combined with her passion for fine art, has led to her more recent work, which focuses on creating lifelike animal portraits set against colourful, vibrant surroundings. Jo works in acrylics, using layers of paint and glazes to create depth of fur.

In addition to her contemporary paintings with vivid and distinctive settings, Jo also creates other artworks featuring more subdued and neutral environments. This diverse approach allows her to showcase her subjects in various contexts, whether it’s against lively, eye-catching backgrounds or more understated and simple settings. Jo’s ability to capture the essence and personality of her subjects within various backdrops demonstrates her skill and innovation in the field of animal portraiture.

Jo has exhibited and sold her captivating artwork at prestigious venues such as the Mall Galleries with the Royal Society of British Artists and the London Art Biennale. Jo is a British Art Prize finalist. She is represented by George Thornton Art.