Jo specialises in creating realistic artworks of wildlife and pets but also enjoys drawing and painting, children, cars, landscapes and any other subject that will stay still long enough! She has been drawing and painting for fun all her life, but having retired from a long athletic career Jo has dedicated more time to her art in the last ten years or so, with an emphasis on supporting animal charities.

During lockdown this year, Jo decided to take things to the next level and spent 26 hours in a dog crate (the videos can still be seen on Facebook @Art by Jo Maynard) Jo spent most of her time sketching while in the cage, and selling the sketches raised over £600, split between Animals Asia and Critter Creek Farm Sanctuary. Jo says; 'The time I spent in the cage was pretty uncomfortable, I couldn't straighten my legs, and had bruises on my knees and elbows afterwards. It gave me some appreciation for what millions of animals go through on a daily basis, often for the duration of their lives... I can't imagine how I would feel if I was still in the cage now, given everything I've had the opportunity to do since then! We have no right to steal freedom from animals.'

In 2009 Jo was commissioned by Simon Cowell, founder of Wildlife Aid in Leatherhead, to illustrate his children’s book based on real-life wildlife rescues. Jo's time as a volunteer at Wildlife Aid granted her the rare privilege of being allowed to photograph the animals in care at the centre, giving her a unique opportunity to capture fantastic reference images, as well as observing the animals’ movement and behaviour.

She has just taken on another book illustration job, which tells the story of a pig and a calf saved from the food industry and now living out their lives in a sanctuary. Money raised from the sale of this book will support the sanctuary.

Working so closely with animals has given Jo a real appreciation for the struggles they face trying to survive the encroachment of their natural habitat, exploitation by humans, and the importance of trying to help them when they are sick, injured, abused or orphaned.

Jo feels very privileged to have had six pieces of her art selected for the final of the David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation Wildlife Artist of the Year for six years in a row and is delighted that the sale of these works has raised well over £2,000 for the charity.

In 2019 Jo took inspiration from @emilylamb_art and her #Sketchforwildlife campaign, and raised £2800 for Animals Asia by selling postcard-sized pastel drawings.

Jo has also donated three artworks to Sketch for Survival as part of the prestigious 'Invitational Collection', with the money raised supporting animal conservation projects such as anti-poaching dogs to protect elephants and other endangered wildlife.

https://www.artbyjomaynard.co.uk/

Jo Maynard - Sketchathon - Impala