Hello, I’m Jo
I am an artist, writer and observer of the natural world.
An adventurer at heart, I was an avid rock climber in my youth. I was born and grew up in South Africa. I now reside in Australia on a farm with my family, two dogs, some sheep and chickens. We’ve shared our spirit of adventure with our kids through camping, off-roading, travel, climbing, home-schooling and even road-schooling!
I’ve always had a fascination with natural history, travel writing, explorer journals and ways in which we can deepen our understanding of place. My art and writing reflects this.
I started my art journey quite late in life, becoming a botanical illustrator in watercolour first, but there were so many other creative outlets I wanted to explore, including writing. Following a new direction (as most adventurers do), this a growing space. So check in regularly for new artwork. I still enjoy traditional watercolour but I also love creating digital watercolours in Procreate.
I hope you find something here that inspires you!
Thanks for visiting!
An excerpt from my favourite poem by Longfellow.
The Fiftieth Birthday of Agassiz.
And Nature, the old nurse, took
The child upon her knee,
Saying, “Here is a story-book
Thy Father has written for thee.”
‘Come, wander with me,” she said,
‘Into regions yet untrod;
And read what is still unread
In the manuscripts of God.”
And he wandered away and away
With Nature, the dear old nurse,
Who sang to him night and day
The rhymes of the universe
And whenever the way seemed long,
Or his heart began to fail,
She would sing a more wonderful song,
Or tell a more marvellous tale.
