Jo Blaker (b. 1983, Huddersfield) is a visual artist specialising in expressive drawing in wet and dry media. Jo holds an MA in Visual Communication from the Royal College of Art and has 10+ years experience as an artist educator writing resources, workshops, presentations and courses for learners of all ages. Jo's expertise in this field has been developed through long standing relationships with clients including, amongst others, The Hepworth Wakefield, Yorkshire Sculpture Park and AccessArt. Jo now also teaches online, and is a regular contributor to the London Drawing Group online program. 

 

Driven by curiosity, playfulness and the sensory joy of mark-making Jo's drawing practice is an ongoing personal investigation that is holistic by nature. Whether responding to outer impressions or inner sensations, Jo’s drawings combine an array of gestures with a rich sense of texture.

Sketchbooks, viewed as artworks within their own right, form the core of her artistic output. This focus has resulted in a depth of knowledge and experience in this area that Jo readily shares through her social media, online classes and as a public speaker. Informed by her own neuro-divergence, Jo's approach revolves around practices that prioritise well-being, enjoyment and confidence building. As Jo regularly says in her workshops "There are so many ways to draw" and it is her privilege to help others experience and explore the many benefits of drawing.