Biography

Jo Denbury’s work explores the memory of place and each painting references the landscape through an immersive encounter. “My work always begins with immersing myself in the subject: my response is immediate and physical after careful sensory observation.“

When Jo starts a painting she has no fixed blueprint in mind, she prefers to work instinctively following the lead and muscle memory of the journey taken within the landscape. Her interest is in pathways and edges. The work hovers between representation and abstract. Through this Jo finds the narrative. Her priority is colour and form.

Jo’s sculpture work is similar, she works from a live animal in studio, which allows what her eye sees to flow to her hands. It is a simultaneous process from eye to hand. Jo’s work largely uses the lost wax process whereby she works in wire and wax to form the sculpture before it goes to the foundry to be cast. Occasionally she works in plaster such as for her “Night Hound” series.

Jo Denbury grew up in a creative household and later worked in theatre and film before a career in journalism. She went on to become Features Director at Elle Decoration and later Associate Editor (Interiors) of the Telegraph Magazine and creator/Editor Coast Magazine. Throughout her career, in sourcing, art-directing and writing she has always been interested how we live and the importance of our sensory environment for our well-being. Colour has played a huge part in her life. After bringing up a family she has returned to her first love which is painting. Her first show was in 2022.

She is a British born artist who divides here time between Dorset and London. She has studied at the Heatherlys School of Fine Art, Slade Summer School and Clare Trenchard Studio.

Her work has been published in Country Life Magazine.