Jo is an award-winning artist who loves to draw, paint and create. She takes her inspiration from the sights around her and can be equally happy using watercolour, acrylic, oil or pastel as well as a variety of other drawing/printing mediums. Jo is passionate about continual growth as an artist and seeks workshops and classes to enrich her skills. She works out of her Melbourne, Bayside studio and participates in a number of art groups and societies, including VAS, AGRA and WSV. Subject matter is diverse. Jo can be equally entranced by the play of light on the landscape as well as the gestures and poses of figurative work. She has received a number of awards/commendations, the most recent being Best Portrait as well as achieving the Grow West Acquisitive award at the Bacchus Marsh Art Exhibition. Her work can be seen on Gallery 247, Instagram (jotaylorartist), Facebook (Jo Taylor Art) and Bluethumb.com

Awards and Commendations

2025: Bacchus Marsh Art Exhibition - Grow West Acquisitive Award (NGV Imogen Mallia-Valjan & Anna Honan)

2025: Best Portrait - Australian Kelpie Muster Art Show 2025 (Brett Jarrett)

2025: Best Watercolour - Glen Eira Cheltenham Art Group Annual Exhibition (Vivi Palegeorge)

2025: Highly Commended - VAS Summer Exhibition 2025 (Fiona Bilbrough)

2024: Honourable Mention and Highly Commended - AGRA 50th Anniversary Exhibition (Judge: Colin Johnson)

2024: Commended – Mentone Mordialloc Art Group Members Exhibition (Judge: Peter Smales)

2024: Guest Artist ‘Australian Kelpie Muster Art Show 2024’

2024: WSV “Luminous” Exhibition entrant.

2023: Winner “Isabella De Soyres” Award – Beaumaris Art Group Annual Exhibition (Judge: Clive Sinclair)

2023/24: Bayside Local Exhibition: Three works selected

2023: Highly Commended – VAS student exhibition (Judge: Mark Bagally)

2023: Commended – Hamilton North Rotary Art Show (Judge: Joshua White)

2023: Winner – Best Hobsons Bay Scene – Hobsons Bay Rotary Club Art Show – (Judge: Ted Dansey)

2022: Winner – Portrait section – Casterton Rotary Club Art show – (Oil) Judge: Brett Jarrett

Highly Commended – Casterton Rotary Club Art show – Kelpie section (Oil)

2022/23: Bayside Local Exhibition: Two works selected

2021: Highly Commended– Sorrento Rotary Art Show (Judge: Ivan Durrant)

2020: Finalist – SBS Portrait Prize

2019: Finalist – SBS Portrait Prize

Winner - Landscape section - Casterton Rotary Club Art Show (Acrylic)

People’s Choice Award – Kelpie Section - Casterton Rotary Club Art Show (Oil)

2018: Ethel Brigdford Award - MMAG Autumn Members exhibition (Oil)

Highly Commended - Portland Rotary Club Art Show (Oil)

Highly Commended - Casterton Rotary Club Art Show (Watercolour)

2016: Very Highly Commended - Mentone Mordialloc Art Group Autumn Members exhibition (Watercolour/pastel)

Winner “Local Inspiration” exhibition, Artists of the Valley/Gorman’s Gallery (Acrylic)

2015: Highly Commended - Clarice Beckett Art Award, Artists of the Valley (Acrylic)

Packing room prize - Casterton Kelpie Acquisitive Art Show (Acrylic)

2014: Best Acrylic in Show - Clarice Beckett Art Award, Artists of the Valley

Best Acrylic in Show - Mentone Mordialloc Art Group

Exhibitions

2019: “Nature Re-imaged” A joint show with photographer, Meredith Graham, at Joan Macrae Members’ Gallery, Beaumaris Art Group.

2016: “From Bush to Bay” joint Exhibition with artists John and Marg Quinn at Shirley Burke Theatre (G3 gallery space), Parkers Road, Parkdale.

I receive regular commissions as well as exhibiting and selling my work at a wide variety of Art shows.

		Artshow: Clarice Beckett Art Award Title: Swamp Birds Award: Best Acrylic

		Artshow: MMAG Artists in Classes 2014 Title: Hot Morning - Murray River Award: Best Acrylic

		Artshow: Clarice Beckett Art Award 2014 Title: Swamp Birds Award: Peoples Choice Award

		Artshow: Clarice Beckett Art Show 2015 Title: Kakadu Award: Highly Commended - Acrylic Section

		Artshow: \'Local Inspiration\' Gorman\'s Gallery Title: River Shadows Award: Best in Show Sponsor: Gorman Real Estate

		Artshow: Mentone Mordialloc Art Group Members Exhibition Title: Kate Award: Very Highly Commended

		Artshow: Kelpie Acquisitive Art Show 2016 Title: My Turn? Award: Commended (judged by Helene Ruma) Sponsor: Clark Rubber

		Artshow: MMAG Artists in Classes Exhibition 2017 Title: Early Moon Award: Ethel Bridgford Award Prize: $100

		Artshow: Casterton Rotary Art Show Title: Sunday Morning - Henty Street Award: Highly Commended

		Artshow: Portland Rotary Art Show 2018 Title: Beach Play Award: Highly Commended

		Artshow: Casterton Rotary Art Show Title: From The Lookout Award: Best Landscape Prize: 750.00

		Artshow: Casterton Rotary Art Show Title: Three Wise Men Award: Peoples Choice Award

		Artshow: Sorrento Art Show 2021 Title: Gets Rough Out There Award: Highly Commended Sponsor: Sorrento Rotary Club

		Artshow: Casterton Rotary Art Show 2022 Title: Smoko On The Anzac Highway Award: Best Portrait - "Smoko on the Anzac Highway" Sponsor: Casterton Rotary Club Prize: $1000

		Artshow: Casterton Rotary Art Show 2022 Title: Shes Mine Award: Highly Commended "She's Mine" Sponsor: Judge: Brett Jarratt

		Artshow: The Hobsons Bay Art Show 2023 Title: Safe Harbour Award: BEST HOBSONS BAY Sponsor: SWEENEY RE Prize: 500.00

		Artshow: Beaumaris Art Group Title: Frosty Sunrise Award: Isabella De Soryes Award Prize: 300

		Artshow: Clarice Beckett Art Award 2023 Title: Frosty Sunrise Award: Peoples Choice "Frosty Morning" Sponsor: Casterton Farm Supplies Prize: 100

		Artshow: Mentone Mordialloc Art Group Members Exhibition Title: Eye On The Prize Award: Highly Commended by Peter Smales

		Artshow: AGRA 50th Anniversary Exhibition Title: Evening Light Award: Honourable Mention & Highly Commended McCubbin Oil Painting Award Sponsor: Judge: Colin Johnson

		Artshow: VAS Summer Exhibition Title: Breakwater Marina Award: Highly Commended Sponsor: Judge: Fiona Bilbrough