Joanna Maisey

Born in the quaint market town of Sudbury in Suffolk (and birthplace of the great British painter Thomas Gainsborough) I was very fortunate to grow up surrounded by wonderful countryside and rich cultural heritage on the doorstep, with the regions long lived association with the wool, silk weaving and textile trades.

I studied at the Suffolk College of Art and have worked in the creative sector in both London and the Midlands for several decades as an illustrator and textile designer, before starting my own design and manufacture business. However it had always been a dream and ambition to return to my fine art roots and love of drawing and painting, which I am now pursuing as a professional artist working from The Sketch Pad in Lutterworth.

I particularly enjoy painting landscapes and animals and I’m never short of inspiration, once again being nestled amongst some beautiful scenery and plenty of wildlife. I love bright colour and the Fauvist movement remains a great inspiration and influence. I also really look forward to holidays to North Norfolk with its dramatic big skies and the ruggedness of the Northumberland coastline, a great contrast to my immediate surroundings and this provides some timely fresh challenges for my brushes and canvas!

Having had to close The Sketch Pad in 2020 due to the pandemic, I have been concentrating on my own development as an artist, always seeking to improve and learn new techniques. I have also entered many competitions over the past two years which has been an invaluable experience in broadening my own choice of subject matter and also with a view on what to offer at The Sketch Pad in 2023.