Jo Spaul - Illustrator

My pursuit to find an artistic niche for myself led me from North Hertfordshire, where I grew up, to Cambridge, where I studied Illustration at the Cambridge School of Art. Following my degree and several years developing my portfolios, I moved up to the North Norfolk Coast to live out the idyllic artistic dream, surrounded by beautiful and varied countryside. Being in this environment provides me with limitless inspiration and reference material for the natural themes within my work.

Although primarily working in lino, I also use cut-art (cutting the image from a single piece of black card), monoprint and scraperboard, and add colour with tissue underlays or watercolour washes. The medium I use will depend on the nature of the individual commission or image.

Over the years, commissioned work has included a published book of my linocuts with accompanying poetry by various writers entitled ‘Urban Birds’ and a series of illustrations for the RSPB’s magazines. More recent commissions have included illustrations for the Norfolk Coast Guardian, a pub sign for ‘The Dabbling Duck’ Freehouse in Gt.Massingham, as well as murals and signs for the Field Studies Centre in Wells on the theme of the water cycle and climate change.

What I love most about being an illustrator is the variety of projects I am asked to be involved in – one week I could be painting a mural on the ceiling of a commercial Dutch ship, the next I could be providing illustrations for a newsletter of a 5,000 acre nature reserve in Northern Australia.

Between commissions I enjoy developing my collection of linocuts of local views and coastal birds, in 3D form, limited edition prints, bookmarks and cards, which I sell and exhibit locally in shops and galleries.

Contact this WNAA member

Telephone 01328 710135

Email: jwspaul@yahoo.co.uk

Web: www.jospaul.co.uk