Jo's journey into art and painting began at home as both her parents were practicing artists and art teachers. Throughout her career Jo been drawn to the sea, beginning with family holidays in Devon and Cornwall and for the past quarter of a century the focus of her subject matter has been Sherkin Island, County Cork, and the coast and landscape of West Cork and Kerry. Jo spent over thirty years working in education whilst continuing with her professional art career. She has worked in special and mainstream education; taught in adult art education; tutored art groups and led residential art workshops. She returned to full-time painting in 2013.