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Zoe Jay (b.1976) is an emerging artist who specialises in contemporary wildlife and nature paintings. With the stars finally aligning she has been fortunate enough to return to her artistic roots to fulfil her lifelong calling. Zoe's studio is based just a stones throw away from the famous Cheddar Gorge in Somerset, which is set amidst the beautiful Mendip hills.
Showing talent with a pencil from an early age and possessing an innate creative inner drive, Zoe is largely self taught. A BA Illustration or Fine Art beckoned throughout her young years, but at eighteen she found herself reluctantly studying a B Ed Art in Primary Education - after being told time and again she should take a 'safer' career option! This was not particularly long lived, and the sliding doors of life soon re-orientated her to running and later owning a cafe with her husband to be.
Fast forward twenty-five years in the full-on hospitality trade and raising two sons, Zoe chose to change course completely, setting up a dog walking and pet care business which she has now run for seven years. With the allowance of a little extra time and therefore head-space for creativity, this and other fortunate factors has finally made it possible to revisit her natural vocation.
Artistic Approach
Zoe's expressive, contemporary style of painting conjures a vibrant, dynamic energy and seeks to capture the mysterious, elusive nature of wildlife; a snapshot of them in their world, evoking the excitement of a sighting in the wild.
Her bold compositions are layered with a variety of techniques using acrylics, oils and spray paints. A touch of metallic colour is a prominent feature, adding a light-reflecting, shimmering quality, and conveying the magical essence of each animal. The viewer is invited to sense the character of each subject, and to feel a connection through their eyes and the energy their image emits.
