Jo is an Albany local who has worked as a visual artist and designer since arriving here in 1980. She studied fine art at Curtin Uni (W.A.I.T), Claremont School of Art & Albany TAFE. During the 80’s she won prizes for her mixed media paintings and drawings at the Albany Art Prize and exhibited her work in West Australian galleries. Her work is represented in the WA Art Bank. A passion for visual expression began for Jo when she was a young girl and has continued throughout her life. During the years when she was bringing up her two children, painting took a back seat, but she has recently resumed her first love of landscape painting. She says…. “Living on the south coast, it isn’t possible for a day to pass without being seduced by the vividness of our landscapes and the drama of our skyscapes. I am constantly enriched and inspired to paint, by the surroundings in which I find myself.”

In Jo’s early years in Albany she began a restaurant business called Kooka’s and it was through that business that she first began exhibiting her early painting and design work. During the 90’s she became well known throughout Australia and internationally as a designer of luxury hand knitting collections, initially in collaboration with (then) Albany Woollen Mills. Over 30 years she has created and published numerous knitting titles, many of which include her own photography, in Australia, NZ, UK, USA and Canada. Her design work has been featured in Vogue Knitting and many other national and international publications. Her online presence (josharp.com) continues in this field.

Jo continues to live on the South Coast close to her grown family and grandchildren. She is a passionate lover of all things community and creative including painting, photography, music and meditation. She is currently a vocalist with the Albany band ‘The Swell Trio’, playing at local venues.