We recently connected with Jo Gough and have shared our conversation below.

Jo, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Can you talk to us about a risk you’ve taken – walk us through the story?

I always had a passion for painting. Growing up there was rarely a time when I did not have a pencil or paint brush in my hand but like many of us, when it came to picking a career path, I started to think more practically about my future. It was a close call between Art and IT, but in the end, I listened to my head and opted to study for an HND in Computer Programming and went on to work for my local council for many years. Despite making this career decision, my heart would not be silenced and I continued to indulge in my passion for art in my spare time.

At first, I did this for self enjoyment but as friends and family started to make requests, I soon realised I had the potential to earn a living doing what I loved. In 2013, I was asked to paint the iconic Liverpool waterfront and the compliments were overwhelming. This was a pivotal turning point for me as I embraced this new genre of painting buildings and iconic landmarks.

Landmarks became my passion and it was whilst sharing my artwork on facebook, that I was contacted by a Liverpool expat living in Toronto, Canada called Cheryl. Cheryl loved my work, especially the paintings of her beloved home town of Liverpool. She encouraged me to reach out to expats across the globe and thus my aptly entitled Mementos Of Home business was born. In her Toronto home, Cheryl proudly displays a large print of my Liverpool skyline as a special memento of her Liverpool home. I had the wonderful opportunity to thank Cheryl in person for all her support when we met up in Liverpool a few years later when she was visiting her family.

My Mementos of Home business grew into a hugely popular merchandise range which I sell in museums, visitor centres and gift shops around the UK.

In 2017, after 30 years of working for the council I decided to leave my job to pursue a full time career as an artist. It was a big risk but it felt the right time for me. I have never regretted my decision to leave and I feel I have definitely found my true calling in life. I am passionate about my art and I get great pleasure from seeing the joy my artwork gives to others.

Jo, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I’ve been a full time artist now for 8 years but I must admit its taken me 5 years until I felt truly comfortable calling myself an artist. I’d worked in a corporate world where academic achievements where key to your success and here I was painting pictures without any formal training or qualifications.

I’d found a unique style combining iconic landmarks with flowers and vibrant colours and this definitely helped catapult me into the world of art.

A few years ago, I was commissioned to paint a heart which I named “You Make Me Happy”. This new style of art proved so popular I decided to take a break from painting landmarks and launched my hugely successful hearts, flowers and trees range under the name Jo Gough Art.

Nature, flowers and hearts are wonderful sources of inspiration for artistic expression. My work embodies a harmonious blend of realism and abstraction, inviting viewers to delve into the layers of meaning within each piece.

My love for colour allows me to infuse my artwork with vibrancy, energy, and a sense of liveliness. Bold and vibrant colours create a visually striking impact and I’m passionate about spreading positivity through my art.

I am constantly pushing the boundaries of my creativity and my journey as an artist has been a continuous exploration and experimentation. I primarily work with acrylic paint applied to various size canvases. I like to play with different techniques like blending, splattering, or layering to add depth and visual interest to my artwork.

Engaging in art and witnessing my own creative achievements has definitely boosted my self-esteem and confidence over the years. Seeing my artistic abilities develop has had a positive impact on my overall sense of self-worth.

Surrounding yourself with beautiful and visually pleasing artwork can create a more pleasant and calming environment. The colours, textures, and forms found in art can evoke positive emotions and uplift your mood. I am often told my art is happy, joyful and uplifting and so many customers have contacted me with inspiring stories of how my art has helped them process and heal from illness, grief, or difficult life experiences. This fills me with a great sense of accomplishment and pride in my creations.

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

When I first started painting my hearts, flowers and tree collections, I spent hours finding the perfect title for each piece.

Each meaningful title, gave an insight into the story, emotion and inspiration behind the art.

Names with personal, evocative, or symbolic meaning evoked emotions and made the artwork resonate more strongly with my audience.

I have so many inspiring stories of how my art has helped customers process and heal from illness, grief, or difficult life experiences.

A couple of years ago a lady commissioned a memorial painting. She wanted her mum’s ashes incorporating into a piece of my artwork. I felt so honoured to be asked to create such a special piece for her.

I feel my sensitivity has helped customers reach out to me. My ability to translate intangible emotions into tangible forms allows viewers to feel seen and understood, creating an intimate bond that drives the success of my artwork.

Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?

I’ll be honest. I have a love/hate relationship with social media. When its performing in your favour it’s the best way to market your business but when the algorithm kicks in, its hard for your own followers to see your posts.

When my business launched 8 years ago, facebook was a great tool for showcasing my artwork and growing my followers. I’d boost a post and I’d gain a whole new set of followers.

I would also post in facebook groups, sharing pictures that were relevant to the group. It was thanks to a post in a Liverpool Old/New Pictures group that I met Cheryl and my journey as a full time artist began.

Nowadays I find Instagram is my preferred platform. I was spotted by a company called The Art Group who have licensed a collection of my artwork which is now sold in The Range, Dunelm and other homeware stores.

I’ve even had a few celebrities connect with me!

I’ve always kept my posts real. Mixing up the content to keep people interested. My cavapoo Ted is my studio buddy and he’s become quite famous on my socials!!!

To continue to grow my business, I’m now investing in facebook adverts and paying an expert to manage them for me, This can run quite costly but with the right person supporting you your business can grow to another level.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.jogoughart.com
• Instagram: Jogoughart
• Facebook: jogoughart
• Other: Tik Tok – Jo Gough Art

Image Credits

Marieke Macklon