Today’s post is by a student who completed her course in 2001. We hope that our students and readers find it inspiring!!
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Jo Allsopp is a self-taught artist from Leicestershire who owns Sable Studio Gallery which is nestled in the beautiful grounds of Moira Furnace Museum, Derbyshire, located by the canal. Here, there is an abundance of wildlife to inspire her as she runs weekly painting and drawing classes and full day workshops as well as selling her paintings, cards, mosaics and jewellery.
She initially completed a Children’s Book Illustration course in 2001 with London Art College which once completed, gave her the motivation to train as an Adult Tutor specialising in watercolours. She continued her work with Leicestershire County Council for many years, but then 12 years ago, decided to take the plunge and set up her own private studio and gallery space.
Since that time, Jo has gone from strength to strength and over 10 years ago illustrated the book ‘My Nana is an Alien’ written by Diane Whitley, following this, an author named Wanda Pierpoint approached and commissioned her to do some illustrations …….it has only just transpired that these have just been published in the book ‘The Hungry Dragon’ available on Amazon. As it has taken this long for the writer to finally get the book published, it came as a welcome surprise as Jo had thought nothing had materialised from this but has subsequently been asked to illustrate two sequels to this book.
To top this, she recently appeared on the new BBC One TV show ‘Home is where the Art is’ featuring Nick Knowles where publicity from this has proved somewhat immense and won her many new fans and commissions. She is to feature in ‘Paint’ magazine and is currently negotiating the possibility of tutorial videos of her work for the public domain. A few years ago, she gained sponsorship by the SAA, and you may have seen her work in art magazines and newspapers and has also been interviewed by BBC Radio Leicester and Derby. Jo’s SAA Gallery Page with a gallery of her work.
Another passion for Jo is working in mosaic where over the years she has produced elaborate mosaic art pieces which can be viewed locally in the NWLDC offices, Coalville as well as Markfield and Newbold Verdon Reading Gardens.
Another art love of hers is Tae kwon-do martial arts where she is currently a World Champion! She recently said to her husband and biggest fan Geoff ‘I just seem to be trying to catch my tail and I can’t’.
His response…. ‘You don’t want to catch it Joey, when you do, it’s over.’
My mottos are; ‘never ever give in’ ‘if you don’t believe in yourself-no one else will’ and finally ‘blow your own trumpet as no one else will!’
www.sablestudiogallery.co.uk
jo.allsopp@btinternet.com
07714 700686 / 01283 224332
