Jo was born in the remote east coast town of Tokomaru Bay in 1948, where she spent her first five years, before her parents bought a fishing lodge at Lake Taupo. They had a great love and knowledge of native flora and fauna, which was imparted to Jo from an early age. Another interest that was encouraged was art and all things creative.

After leaving school, Jo went to the Design School in Wellington. The first year was spent learning the skills of graphic design, and the next three studying industrial design, which proved to be invaluable training for her future artistic career. Jo worked as a landscape designer for about fifteen years, interspersed with travel.

During a trip to England in 1987, a short course in the art of botanical illustration and painting set the direction for the next 23 years.

Now living and working in Christchurch, Jo has taken part in many joint and solo exhibitions, and has paintings in New Zealand and overseas collections.

Jo feels there is still a place for this fine, long and honoured tradition, as a good botanical painting can capture flora honestly and beautifully, portraying the essence and detail of the subject.

“My aim as an artist is to serve both science and art; to study the subject and ensure botanical accuracy, while also capturing the essence, the “spirit” of the plant on the page. I wish to show and share with the viewer the endless, ephemeral beauty of the plant world, and hopefully help foster an appreciation and pleasure in the minutiae of the natural world.”