JESSICA COOTE.

ABOUT.

At the age of 12, I had the privilege of exhibiting an oil painting alongside Duncan Grant – a celebrated member of The Bloomsbury Group. This wonderful experience encouraged me to pursue my dream of becoming an artist. Subsequently, after completing an A-Level in Art (at the tender age of 15), I began exhibiting my work and accepting commissions. Several years later, I studied Creative Embroidery at Brighton Technical College – a course which, at that time, existed under the auspices of Goldsmiths, University of London. During this period, I became enamoured with Oriental, Egyptian and Greek Artwork and Mythology, and began exploring these themes in my painting and embroidery.

Shortly after the birth of my eldest daughter, my family and I left England in search of a better life in Provence. We settled in the small rural village of Rustrel, which was surrounded by breathtaking countryside and bathed in beautiful light. Inspired by this extraordinary landscape, I began using my embroidery to capture its beauty. Following a succession of successful exhibitions, I began to receive regular commissions.

After many years living in Provence, I returned to Sussex and settled in Brighton. Returning to Sussex has allowed me to rediscover the richness and beauty of the South Downs. Since childhood, I have been inspired by the changing moods of South Downs, and fascinated by the diverse range of flora and fauna which thrive here (including rare birds, snakes and lizards, butterflies and grasshoppers, and many species of fragile native plants). To my delight, on the 12th of November 2009, Hilary Benn (Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) announced that the South Downs has received National Park status, and confirmed its boundary. The South Downs National Park will officially come into being on the 31st of March 2010. My project, ‘Textile Landscapes of The South Downs National Park’, is a celebration of this important event.

To view a list of selected exhibitions, both past and present, please CLICK HERE.