Jo Long
Jo
was born in Barnstaple, England in 1968. She studied at Portsmouth University
and now shares her time living in Poole and in France at La Barre de Monts,
since April 2005. The sea is very important to Jo, who has always lived
just a pebbles throw away from it.
Jo can be seen walking along the coast, looking for materials which she collects and assembles in her studio. Her studio resembles a beach hut full of the driftwood, shells, glass and pottery which together form the basis of her delightful work. Recent work is mainly mixed media using acrylic painted seascapes which also employ found objects from the shore.
The work is based on her appreciation of the poetry of the sea with her knowledge gained in majoring in Marine Biology. Influences include the naive style of Alfred Wallis and assemblages of Prunella Clough.