Jo Quigley is a contemporary British artist known for her vibrant urban scenes and captivating crowd compositions. She studied at Winchester School of Art for her BA, followed by an MA in Applied Fine Art from Kingston University. Jo now lives and works near Woking in Surrey, where she continues to develop her distinctive, confident style.
Much of Jo’s inspiration comes from everyday life – particularly people in busy urban environments. Living close to London allows her to quietly observe and photograph people as they go about their daily routines. She’s drawn to places where people gather in numbers – parks, riversides, and city streets – resulting in paintings that are rich in detail, movement, and human connection. Her subjects appear unposed and completely natural, often unaware they’re being observed, which lends her work an intimate and authentic feel.
Jo’s aim is to create paintings that feel alive and engaging, where the viewer might spot themselves in the scene. Her work is ambitious in both scale and complexity, inviting you to take a closer look and get lost in the crowd. She cites Pissarro, Hopper, and Lowry as key influences, and her contemporary use of acrylics allows for flexibility and speed while maintaining depth and richness.
Jo’s paintings are always beautifully presented in deep tray frames for a sleek, modern finish. She exhibits regularly and has received multiple awards and accolades, including being shortlisted for Artist & Illustrators Artist of the Year in 2013, 2014 and again in 2023, as well as the BBC Wildlife Artist of the Year and Surrey Artist of the Year in 2011.
We’re proud to have Jo as one of our most popular represented artists. Her South Bank and London scenes particularly resonate with our local clients, and we always have a collection of her work in the gallery.
