artist statement + CV

Artist statement

Photography: Laura Zotova

I’m Jo (or jdwoof), a self-taught visual artist living and working in Newham, East London.

I’m compelled to explore ways to connect to myself, to other humans and to my environment – to better understand my experiences, support myself in challenging times, and work out how I can contribute. As a neurodivergent person, I’ve discovered that mark-making – whether I’m out and about or in bed – helps me explore my feelings and thoughts with curiosity and with less shame. It’s become my way of sharing who I am when finding the right words feels hard. I also have a movement practice, which helps with nervous system regulation and feeling expansive, playful and exploratory.

I work across drawing, painting and various found materials. I’m especially drawn to creatures – real and imagined – that help me explore and understand different parts of myself. Looking at those parts as animals helps me be kinder to myself.

Accessibility is central to my practice – not just physical access, but making art-making truly available to everyone. I love to use found materials and things that would otherwise be thrown away, because I think there is enough ‘stuff’ out there for us to be inspired by and use without new things needing to be made. This also means art-making can be affordable and materials are within reach. I’m interested in practices that don’t require sitting at a desk or being in a studio – often making art in bed, on the train or leaning against a tree. There is so much opportunity and possibility if we can notice it – in our own bodies, in conversations, in rubbish we find – so my practice is often helping myself be in the state where I can do that noticing.

Working with others is an important part of my practice. I work with individuals through coaching and mentoring, and I run workshops with both children and adults. I love helping others discover the benefits of making and the freedom of exploring without ‘shoulds’ about what art should look or feel like.

I’m also a Forest School Leader and I’m currently completing a permaculture design course. These trainings have deepened my connection to the living world and given me frameworks for thinking about circular systems and reciprocal relationships with nature.

CV

Education and Training:

  • MA in Gender Studies, Central European University in Budapest, Hungary. Graduated in 2016
  • BSc in Psychology, Swansea University + University of Mannheim, Graduated in 2014 with a 2:1

  • Permaculture Design Course (ongoing)
  • Forest School Leader Level 3 Training, 2025
  • Level 3 Forest School First Aid and Level 3 Pediatric First Aid, 2025
  • Body Informed Leadership Practitioner Programme, 2023
  • Coaching for Leadership: Psychodynamic Approaches, 2022

Exhibitions:
Solo exhibitions

Group exhibitions:

  • Tower Gallery, summer exhibition, 2025
  • Tower Gallery, ‘black and white’, 2025
  • Barbican Library, ‘feelings are real’, Art Babies (me + Steve Xoh), 2025
  • Leytonstone Arts Trail, July 2024
  • Rosetta Arts, ‘LGBTQ+ History Month’, 2024
  • West Reservoir Centre, ‘art at the res’ 2024
  • Spongleheim Gallery for outsider art, 2022

Interviews + Podcasts

Publications

  • Upcoming: Lip Service quarterly zine from the Vagina Museum
  • Would Like to Meet – Issue 2 – community building zine from She Her They Them

Awards, Grants, and Residencies:

  • Summer of Sustainability Commission from Culture Within Newham
  • Postcard commission for Newham Heritage Month 2025 with Rabbits Road Press. Read about it here!
  • Grant from Newham Council for LGBTQ+ History Month to run queer history walk and run plaque-making session, 2025
  • Grant from RISE Beyond – funding to pay for Bow Arts studio for one year, 2024

Residencies

Upcoming

  • Samphire Hoe Solstice Celebration with the Bee Friendly Trust 2026

Past

  • TRACES festival, Tower Hamlets Cemetery, London, July 2025
  • Samphire Hoe Solstice Celebration with the Bee Friendly Trust, June 2025
  • Neighbourhood Store, Shoreham-by-Sea, July 2024
  • Ocracoke Art Adventure, North Carolina, January 2023
  • Applecart Arts, October 2022 – July 2023
  • Stanley Road Store for Brighton Open Studios, May 2023
  • Summer Camp Artist in Residence, Hawarden Estate, North Wales, 2022
  • Glen Dye, Scotland, May 2022

Professional Experience

  • Artist Mentor – Entelechy Arts – September 2023 – current
  • Forest School Assistant – September 2024 – July 2025
  • Self-employed mentor and coach
  • Group facilitator – online and in person workshops, nature connection and consulting