Storytellers is an exhibition of works that celebrate the wonderful textures, sculptural shapes and resilience of trees.

 The exhibition brings together a collection of oil paintings and monoprints inspired by trees that have sparked Josie’s interest on walks in various locations over the last few years. Josie explores landscapes with a love of discovering trees in unexpected places, twisted into strange shapes by the relentless wind on the side of a mountain or at the bottom of a valley covered in vibrant moss and clinging to life.

There is a feeling of awe and hope in the presence of old trees, knowing they can live on for hundreds of years. Their gnarled branches and weathered bark are a reminder of the history of the landscape. The tree is a silent witness to the ever-changing world around it, symbolising resilience and endurance.

We are delighted to welcome Josie back to our gallery for her fourth solo exhibition at Emerald. A firm favourite with our customers and highly anticipated return, Josie has delivered another stunning collection of original art for her lastest exhibition. I hope you might visit to enjoy her artwork.

Learn about Josie’s Practice:

Josie graduated with a degree in Fine Art from Norwich University of the Arts in 2012. Her studio is based in Cholsey, South Oxfordshire, UK. She is also an associate member of Ayres House Studios in Wallingford.

Josie’s paintings are intuitive responses to the natural environment, inspired by the vastness and wonder of the natural world.

 The works are saturated with colour and vitality, reflecting her response to light, atmosphere and topography. Painting and sketching en plein air is a vital part of her practice, enabling her to react to the landscape, playing with loose, immediate brush marks.

Experimenting with a variety of media including oils, inks and pigments, with many large-scale paintings, as a result, are part of the enjoyment of the creative process. Josie’s physical movements creating large expansive works are an expression of the energy she feels within the landscape.

Previous shows include the Royal Watercolour Society Open (Cotswolds Mount Prize 2023), the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition, Holly Bush Emerging Woman Painter Prize, and the Sunday Times Watercolour Competition…. And of course, she is a favourite at Emerald, happily returning for her latest solo exhibition.