Jo Holdsworth is an Award Winning Contemporary British artist. Living and working in London, Jo takes inspiration from the city’s ever-changing landscape and urban city views, as well as the reflections on the British coast at low tide. Her uplifting and unique paintings often include silhouetted figures, combining a subtle colour palette with loose, spontaneous brushwork.
Jo feels a real affinity with the Devon coastline, having stayed in Thurlesetone and Salcombe for many years. Jo’s love of the amazing beaches and reflected light on the British coast is apparent throughout her seascapes, and this coupled with her charismatic figures adds a cinematic narrative to the work.
Jo’s artistic influences are far ranging. They include the American realist painters of the early twentieth century, in particular George Bellows known for his striking depictions of New York urban life, and the atmospheric paintings of Edward Hopper. Jo also cites LS Lowry as an important inspiration. Other influences include early Twentieth-Century such as Paul Strand and sculptors such as Alberto Giacometti to whose work Jo’s paintings have been compared.
Jo is represented by some outstanding galleries and exhibits widely, including in highly acclaimed solo and group shows. She was delighted to receive the accolade of Royal Arts Prize Visitor’s Choice Award Winner and her joint Award Winners’ Show was presented at the Royal Opera Arcade Gallery, Pall Mall, London in March 2020. Jo’s recent Solo Show at 60 Threadneedle Street in the City of London attracted a large number of visitors and received incredible reviews.
Jo’s paintings have also been on book, album and magazine covers and she is often approached for her work to be used in different settings.
Jo was thrilled to be selected by the Affordable Art Fair as one of its 30 Best Selling International artists to feature in its first Summer Exhibition. As part of the Affordable Art Fair Summer Exhibition Jo was included in an Affordable Art Fair blog ‘Five Artists You Need to Know’.
Jo’s distinctive paintings attract a loyal following and carry a strong message of hope for the future. She regularly undertakes commissions and her paintings are collected throughout the world.
“It’s the mixture of calm beauty and ambiguity throughout all of Jo Holdsworth’s paintings that mesmerises the viewer.” London art critic Tabish Khan, World of FAD Magazine
“She is a painter with a keen eye for colour and an almost cinematic appeal. The paintings are panoramic and range from striking figure paintings to modern landscapes, all painted in subtle hues.” Culture Vulture arts review
“The figures in her work, elongated and striking, dominate her oil on canvas paintings as recurrent leitmotifs. Faceless and eerie, they are denied identity. But this anonymity means each one of them could be any one of us, adding to the undeniably potent imagery of Jo’s work.” Arts & Collections
“Jo’s paintings of figures have a particular visual richness and spontaneity.” Culture Vulture arts review
“Her work evokes, with uncanny semblance, the comings and goings of everyday life. With seemingly effortless brush strokes and a limited colour palette, she crafts an artistic window into quintessentially British scenes.” Arts & Collections
“Like Lowry, Jo has an amazing eye for the dynamic patterns formed by a shifting crowd of people.” Culture Vulture arts review
Jo Holdsworth is an Award Winning Contemporary British artist. Living and working in London, Jo takes inspiration from the city’s ever-changing landscape and urban city views, as well as the reflections on the British coast at low tide. Her uplifting and unique paintings often include silhouetted figures, combining a subtle colour palette with loose, spontaneous brushwork. Jo ... Read Full Bio
