Jo Beer

Joined Artfinder: May 2015

Artworks for sale: 180

(56)

United Kingdom

Updates from Jo Beer's studio

  • Inspired

    Inspired

    oil on canvas 102 x 76 cm. This is my art teacher, and he is the reason that I do what I do. Let me explain... Vincent was my A level art teacher. In lessons, I would generally paint whatever object I could find on the art room shelves - potted plants, bits of wood,, sheep skull, mechanical components. Vincent suggested that I ought to paint people, I'd possibly be good at it. He asked if I had ever heard of Lucien Freud, to which I responded "No, who are they?" thinking that he had said Lucy & Freud :). He took me into his office of books and flicked through a Freud book, he talked about the skin tones, the huge variety of colours in flesh...I had never seen anything like it. So, I started to draw/ paint people and seemed to find it easy. He then made a comment which has stayed with me for 40 yrs..."I get so excited when a pupil shows promise, I imagine what they could become, but when I bump into them years later and ask what they're doing, they say that they're a nurse, policeman, plumber etc but never an artist, and that makes me sad". In that moment( and I can remember it as if it was yesterday) I made a decision to be just that, so that when he bumps into me one day, I can tell him that I'm an artist and it will make him happy. That one comment has been my inspiration ever since. Vincent is a successful artist, a member of the Penwith Society in St Ives, has shown in the Royal Academy. I go to his exhibitions, and he comes to mine. When I try to explain how significant he is to my art career, he always says " I was just a teacher". At the age of almost 92, he was finding it difficult to access his studio to paint so offloaded his stretched canvases to me. This portrait is painted on one of those, on the back he had written 'Towards Bolventor'. As this canvas had originally been designated to have that view on it, I have painted his own painting of Bolventor behind him. So, we are looking at Vincent and also looking towards Bolventor.

    13 October 2025
    A Glass Full

    A Glass Full

    An unusual commission 50 x 60 cm , oil on canvas. Loved every minute of painting this one.

    25 September 2025
    National Portrait Gallery London

    National Portrait Gallery London

    Popped to London to visit the Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer Portrait Award exhibition again at the weekend, bit of a trek from Cornwall so this was only the second time that I'd been able to get there since the Private View event, so delighted to have my work featured in this fabulous place. Anyway... exhibition runs until October 12, so do call in...free entry. It will then travel to Laing Gallery, Newcastle next year.

    15 September 2025
    Studio

    Studio

    An image from a recent studio photoshoot

    03 August 2025
    Herbert Smith Freehills Portrait Award

    Herbert Smith Freehills Portrait Award

    I am delighted to have been selected for this year's exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery, London. 46 exhibiting artists selected from 1300+ submissions from 68 countries. Road to Me, oil on canvas, will be exhibited from July 10 - October 12. Thrilled to have work shown in this spectacular venue.

    29 May 2025
    In progress...

    In progress...

    Something I'm working on, a beautiful William Morris background has been pretty time consuming, but it will be worth. Watch this space!

    01 May 2025
    Phoenix Hall ( commission)

    Phoenix Hall ( commission)

    Oil on canvas 60 x 60 cm For a regular collector.

    18 April 2025
    Sting ( commission)

    Sting ( commission)

    Oil on canvas 60 x 60 cm Commission of a very beautiful fresh faced Sting. Fell a little bit in love painting this one.

    01 April 2025
    Muse and coffee

    Muse and coffee

    My beautiful sitter happened to stumble upon her portrait whilst having a coffee where it currently is on show.

    30 March 2025
    Conical Landscape

    Conical Landscape

    Commission for a regular collector. Oil on canvas 50 x 70 cm. In Japan, poles are erected next to trees with ropes attached which stretch out over the canopy. These structures form protection from typhoons. A beautiful Japanese women sits in front with brightly coloured cords wrapped around her chin and splayed out to continue the shapes created. An unusual request.

    26 March 2025
    For Freedom

    For Freedom

    Oil on canvas 30 x 30 cm( sold)This wonderful brave man.

    02 March 2025
    White Palace oil on canvas 80 x 60 cm

    White Palace oil on canvas 80 x 60 cm

    Commission. I get some unusual requests, always a delight to get people's creative, quirky ideas onto a canvas for them. This one was great fun.

    18 February 2025