Joanna Farrow - painter

Whilst pursuing a successful career as a food writer and stylist, Joanna Farrow decided to start a Fine Art diploma as a mature student. She describes this discovery of art as a life changing experience and admits that the process and purpose of her paintings fills much of her thoughts nowadays. Living a stone's throw from Ashdown Forest, she often finds inspiration from her regular walks on the forest's trails, surveying the landscape and spontaneously pausing to sketch clumps of trees dotted amongst large swathes of heather as well as detailing the ferns' tones changing as the seasons pass. Once she is back in her studio, she uses her drawings to produce large scale paintings on canvas, blending soft tones of oil paints together. These are combined with charcoal and oil sticks, to depict the individual character of a craggy old tree for instance. In 2017, Joanna was shortlisted in the National Open Art Competition and regularly exhibits her paintings in London, Brighton and the South East whilst working on various commissions including the interior of Michelin stars' restaurant 'L'enclume' in Cumbria as well as the adjoining rooms available to stay in the village of Cartmel.