Coming from an artistic family Jo inherited a talent for drawing and painting and winning many classes at shows and school competitions.

She started exhibiting her paintings in building society windows while still at school, signing her work under a pseudonym so as not to attract the attention of her classmates. She sold her first commission at the extraordinarily young age of 15.

After school, Jo managed a few weeks at Art College, however disappointed with what it had to offer and being rather self willed, left as she says to go it alone. And thus, like so many others, her career started painting commissions of pets.

Jo worked in various jobs in Harrogate, York and Edinburgh including gallery work, but it was only to subsidize her painting. Totally self taught, Jo's paintings continue to sell and she has been a full time artist for the past few years, her work selling for ?00 upwards.

In early 1994, at the age of only 26, Sally Mitchell approached Jo to produce some work for her exhibition of Sporting Dogs. The immediate result was the hugely popular print of foxhounds Bright Eyed and Bushy Tailed a copy of which, according to the front page of the Daily Telegraph, was bought by Prince William at Olympia.

She is now published exclusively by Sally Mitchell and has a number of limited edition prints and greeting cards after her work.

In 1996 Jo appeared on BBC Look North television after being chosen by a local clockmaker to paint a limited edition of 100, Grandfather clock faces, commemorating the lives of the Thirsk based world famous veterinary surgeons James Herriot and Siegfried Farnon, who both lived within a mile of Jo and who's practice was in the local town. These now sell round the world commanding prices between ?400 - ?800.

Jo's favourite subjects are horses and dogs, preferring the bold yet sensitive touch of watercolours, but by no means disregarding the enduring quality of oils. Other subjects, which she is equally at home with, are buildings, farm animals and cats. All of which she captures beautifully retaining softness and atmosphere; qualities which so many lack.

In 1996 Jo married her teenage sweetheart, Ian whom she had met seven years previously while he was serving as a regular officer with an Artillery Regiment based at a local barracks. She now lives in Yorkshire again after four years in Edinburgh.

Her hobbies mainly revolve around her horse Charity and her German shepherd dog Yan who features in two of her prints to date and her first greeting card. She also enjoys walking, skiing and needlework.