Jools experiments with print, paint and collage to make her art. She has shown her work in the Channel Islands and sells her work in a variety of island settings. After art college during the punk era she worked as a community development worker, print and web designer and Highlands Internet Technologies tutor, until 5 years ago took the plunge and became an artist. Jools explores ways to transform traditional Jersey monuments, relics and features into modern day icons so that they can reappear today as part of contemporary living in prints, canvas, cards, and paintings. This artwork is a process incorporating photography, painting, software and collage resulting in the 'Jersey Icon series', a contemporary take on traditional Jersey views, places and anything that could be described as iconic. Her work is described as having impact and a fun element and sometimes linked to Pop Art. Jools enjoys working with groups, especially young people, sharing creative ideas on community art projects such as summer Jersey Heritage workshops.

Tell us about your path to setting up your business and what motivated you?

Jools lost her job suddenly and it knocked her for six, but within two weeks she had all her art college course work out from under her bed and was up and running, framing, labelling, re-inventing with the help of The Harbour Gallery who have taught her most of what she knows about selling art. Her motivation started out as finding a way to work for her self, also how to regain her confidence and self esteem. She worked on a loose theme 'Jersey' and this became her motivation to develop her artwork and make a living. It has changed her life and given her an inspirational way to live also self-reliance and motivation that was lacking in her working life.

How do you work and what is a typical day like for you?

Jools works through the night a lot, it's quiet, calm and if she can keep going she achieves so much more without interruption. Jools says lots of artists she knows work in a similar way, if she makes something she's happy with she gets a second wind! Jools also loves being outdoors and is pretty active.

What are the best parts about your business?

Making something that someone thinks is art. Having time to talk about art to customers or people attending a show. Knowing her family are proud of her. Working for herself, organising her day she says, is a privilege that she thought she would never achieve.

What has been your greatest struggle as a business owner so far?

Greatest struggles? - time to create! Never enough of that and always having the right materials to hand, also the funding to keep up with inks, canvas, paper, paint, frames, card and everything associated with running a small business!

What has been your biggest a-ha moment so far?

Biggest a-ha moment... wrapping a finished picture at 3am in the morning and putting the label on the front! Seeing her family walk around an exhibition and knowing it's being enjoyed. Working with Jersey Heritage on art workshops and community projects. Selling her first picture at The Harbour Gallery.