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Biography

Jo Hall

Jo Hall

Hon. and Past President Society of Graphic Fine Art, AOI

Born in London Jo cannot remember life without drawing or without the excitement of living near the Thames. Being an inquisitive youngster led to a scientific training at Exeter University and a PhD at Imperial College, London, followed by a career as a Biologist in the water industry. However, all spare time was devoted to drawing and experimenting with colour. In 1990 with encouragement from Berkshire School of Art, Jo was accepted as a member of the Association of Illustrators. Commissions from advertising, magazines, and corporate and private clients followed.

Creating a suitable image according to the client’s rules can be demanding, but accepting the challenge often led Jo to discover fresh approaches and new subject matter. Painting four deep space images for Associated Aviation Underwriters Inc. expanded Jo’s horizon, requiring different techniques and a fresh approach to composition and colour. The nature of these paintings led Jo to experiment with abstraction related to landscape and still life, and to an invitation to give a solo show at the European Space Agency’s Technical Centre in Noordwijk in the Netherlands in 2001.

Jo retains her enthusiasm for natural forms and landscape, but sometimes drawing in a very representational way sparks an idea for a more imaginative work. Enjoyment of drawing is reflected in Jo’s continuing involvement with the Society of Graphic Fine Art, a Vice President from 1999 and more recently President, an executive role from which she stepped down in 2014, after one of the Society’s most successful years. Within twelve months Members organized six exhibitions countrywide from Yeovil in Somerset to St. Helens on Merseyside. Jo was delighted to accept Honorary Membership later in 2014.

Exhibition venues include;

  • European Space Agency’s Technical Centre, Noordwijk, Netherlands; Solo Show 2001
  • Llewellyn Alexander Gallery, London; ‘Not the Royal Academy’
  • Medici Gallery, London; ‘Summer Exhibition of Miniatures’
  • Gallery 27, Cork Street, London; SGFA Members Exhibition 2003
  • Hotbath Gallery, Bath; SGFA Open 2002-2004
  • The Wooburn Festival, Wooburn Green, Berkshire 2002 – 2017
  • Mall Galleries, London; Royal Institute of Painters in Watercolour, Society of Women Artists
  • Royal Automobile Club, Pall Mall, Summer Show; London 2007
  • The World of Glass Gallery St. Helens SGFA Members 2013
  • R K Burt Gallery Southwark London, SGFA Members; 2012 -2017
  • Menier Gallery London SGFA Open 2004 – 2018
  • Southwark Cathedral Refectory 2013
  • Barbican Library 2014
  • Norden Farm Centre for the Arts Maidenhead; Jo curated and participated in the following;
    • Joint show with Pamela Clarke; Colour of Ideas 2006
    • Joint show featuring four SGFA artists; Place: Memory and Dream 2009
    • Joint show featuring four SGFA artists; Watching the Landscape 2010
    • Joint show with award winning photographer, John Hollidge; Patterns of Nature 2011
    • (Participation only) with four Berkshire artists; Approaches to Landscape 2012
    • Solo show: River and Riviera 2014
    • Solo show: Seen and Imagined 2016
    • CAMAT group show 2017, 2018
  • Bourne End Library: solo show 2015
  • Bankside Gallery, London: SGFA Members: 2015, 2017

Art workshops and Publications

Since 2003 Jo has organised or led hands on drawing events in connection with ‘The Big Draw’ and the SGFA, and many SGFA Members’ drawing days. She also tutors short courses for the WEA, tutors independently, at Norden Farm Centre for the Arts in Maidenhead, Berkshire. With an accent on drawing techniques these courses led to the publication of drawing features on sgraffito, frottage, transferred line and coloured pencil technique in Artists’ and Illustrators’ Magazine.

In addition to courses Jo has been invited to give critique events to Art Societies and Clubs.

 Courses Delivered 2017/18 include

  • Pastel over Watercolour
  • Drawing on the Imagination:this course explored four themes; intuition, memory, story telling and surrealism
  • Collage: a practical course inspired by three artists: Matisse (prepared papers and cut outs) John Piper (found papers in mixed media work with watercolour, ink, wax and pastel) Max Ernst (found images to create surreal works)
  • The Poetry of Objects: a watercolour course exploring still life on a small scale
  • Rocky Outcrops, Tumbling Water in Pastel
  • Starting with Watercolour
  • Rain or Shine: the weather in pastel
  • Shacks, Sheds, Walls and Ruins: a landscape course inspired by the works of John Piper

Workshops for Autumn 2018

  • The Enchanted Garden: in watercolour and/or pastel
  • The Selfie and the Self Portrait
  • Black and White: A collage and drawing workshop exploring composition and positive and negative shapes
  • On Reflection: A pastel workshop where participants are invited to arrange a still life over mirror card