Explore my love of Portraits

There’s something magical about watching a face emerge from a blank page.
For me, portraiture isn’t just a practice…it’s where I lose myself, slow down, and simply create.

Portraits have always held a special place in my heart. They’re what I return to when I need to reconnect with my art… a space to slow down, look closely, and rediscover why I love painting. I find faces endlessly fascinating and deeply emotive; there’s something so powerful about watching a likeness emerge from the page. Even after all these years, it still feels magical.

For me, a portrait is more than just a likeness, faces draw us in, sparking curiosity about who the person is and what lies beneath their expression, their story, a sense of who they are. That moment when someone sees their portrait for the first time and feels an emotional connection to it… that’s what makes it so rewarding. You see it time and again…a portrait has the power to move people.

I’m grateful to now have the skills to capture a likeness, but my focus is shifting. I want to push my portraiture further…to explore new ways to bring more depth and meaning to each piece…for them to stand as a work of art in their own right, layered with feeling and connection, with marks that encourage you to discover more and look a little longer.

Close-up of a watercolor painting featuring an elderly man's face with white hair, deep wrinkles, and a bright blue eye, smiling.
A painting of a woman taking a photo with a vintage camera, with a red and purple background and faint urban scenery.
A young woman with long brown hair holding a white rose and a dried flower, with visible tattoos on her arm, appears to be in a contemplative pose.
Painting of an older man with gray hair, smiling with teeth showing, wearing a dark sweater with a North Carolina emblem and a light collared shirt, with hands clasped together.
A young person with red hair and glasses playing an acoustic guitar, with a background of a concert crowd and a reddish sky.
A woman with dark hair styled in waves, wearing a dress with off-the-shoulder sleeves, resting her face on her hand and smiling softly against a textured gray background.

Enquire today to have a Portrait of your own created…

A Timeless Gift for Any Home

  • A painting of a woman with dark hair, one eye visible, lips pursed, holding a finger to her lips, with pink and red abstract background.
  • A watercolor painting of an elderly woman wearing a knit hat and dark clothing, with a not yet finished background.
  • A grayscale painting of a woman with her back to the viewer, holding a cloth near her shoulder, with her hair in a loose bun and wearing earrings.
  • A woman standing in profile, wearing a black hat, sunglasses, gray leather jacket, and gloves, leaning against a vintage motorcycle.
  • Black and white portrait of a young boy hugging a dog, both looking at the camera.
  • An artist's painting of an elderly man with white hair and beard, wearing a dark shirt, with a background of blue and gray tones, on an easel. There is also a reference photo of the same man on a smaller easel nearby, showing a man with similar white hair, beard, and a weathered face. The workspace has brushes, a knife, and a cloth with paint on it on a wooden table.
  • Black and white portrait of a woman with closed eyes, holding a string of Christmas lights in her hand, with bokeh light effects on the left side.

Hear from my previous clients

  • A woman with curly hair wearing a black hat, sunglasses, a leather jacket, and gloves, standing next to a vintage telephone booth.

    "Thanks Jo & long may your fabulous work continue. We will always recommend you to anyone looking for a quality portrait"

    Mark Stubbs

  • Colorful painting of a yellow Labrador retriever sitting on a grassy field, with dark trees in the background, wearing a black collar.

    "The service, professionalism & talent of Jo is exceptional. Sending me step by step photos throughout"

    Layla

  • A large historic mansion with red brick walls and ornate architectural details, surrounded by manicured gardens and topiary, under a partly cloudy sky.

    “Jo came highly recommended, she was very kind & even visited our home to help plan the painting"

    Minyi

  • Two Rottweiler dogs with black and tan coats, wearing chain collars, sitting side by side against a white background.

    "I have several paintings lovingly created by the wonderful Jo Watson & wouldn't hesitate to recommend her"

    Karen Hays

  • A pencil drawing of a golf course scene with a golfer swinging, spectators watching, and a man standing with a golf club near trees.

    “Jo did a superb drawing of Ben Hogan winning the US Open for me...a truly amazing artist"

    Phil Mellor

  • Painting of a black and white dog with erect ears, resting on a blue background.

    “It was more than I could have ever hoped for. Such a level of detail that makes the picture come to life"

    Jacob Handslip

  • A realistic painting of a dog, possibly a Springer Spaniel, with brown and white curly fur, looking directly at the camera, standing on a grassy background.

    "A real true to life painting, the quality & detail is excellent. Jo captured him beautifully"

    Alison Cooper

  • A painted scene of seven women walking down a street with industrial buildings and cooling towers in the background. The women are dressed in vintage clothing, some with hats and coats, and one woman is holding a small dog.

    "Jo was so patient & helped develop our idea creating an amazing painting that'll be treasured forever"

    Stephen & Julie Miller