Nelson’s ‘unmatched scenery’ inspires artist

Staff Reporter

Artist Jean Jackson says Nelson’s unmatched scenery inspires her pieces. Photo: Minou Jonatzke.

BY MINOU JONATZKE

Nelson artist Jean Jackson exhibited a few of her newer works at the Winter Art Show last weekend.

A local resident for the past two decades, and an award-winning member of the Art Group Nelson, you can almost overlook that she moved across the globe to call Nelson, “the artist’s paradise”, home.

Back in England, the first steppingstone towards becoming a full-time artist was when her works got selected for the John Laing National Exhibition. This opened a door to the international market, including buyers from the UK, Europe, and America. Years later, it was solely by coincidence that she visited New Zealand.

In 2002, her eldest daughter married a Kiwi and invited the whole family to the ceremony.

While their daughter fell in love in New Zealand, Jean and her husband fell head over heels for the country.

They brushed aside the now outdated plan to retire in France and immigrated to the breath-taking coast of Aotearoa.

Even after 20 years, you can still hear how smitten Jean is with the region, lighting up as she talks about the immersive colours, the unmatched scenery, and the exceptional evening sky. This inspiration reflects in her artworks that won her multiple People’s Choice awards with the Art Group Nelson.

2010 marks a highpoint in her career, as she won the Yellow Pages Art Contest and was featured in that year‘s edition with her painting ‘Busy Bees’.

If you wish to acquire one of her unique depictions of Nelson‘s nature, visit the Queens Garden Exhibition in January or go to her website.

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