Hello, and Thank You for Visiting
I'm Jo Frost, and I'm delighted you've found your way here.
I'm a mixed-media artist based in the beautiful village of Mumbles on the Gower Peninsula in South Wales, where I also have the pleasure of welcoming visitors to J W Frost Fine Art Gallery.
The sea has been a constant thread throughout my life and my work. Whether I'm painting a powerful breaking wave, the quiet atmosphere of a coastal path or the timeless presence of Oystermouth Castle, I'm always searching for something beyond what the eye can simply see.
I'm interested in the essence of a place.
Its movement.
Its atmosphere.
Its character.
The emotional connection we feel when we stand there.
For me, painting is never simply about recording a landscape.
It's about creating an experience that invites you to feel as though you've stepped into that place yourself.
Every painting begins with plaster
People often ask about the texture in my paintings.
The answer surprises many people.
Every painting begins with plaster.
Using my hands and simple tools, I build a sculptural surface that responds to the landscape before me. The texture isn't something I add afterwards; it forms the very foundation of each painting. Colour then grows into that surface, allowing light, atmosphere and movement to emerge naturally.
Rather than trying to reproduce every detail, I'm looking for something much deeper.
I want to capture the essence of a place rather than simply describe it.
From Sculpture to Painting
Although many people know me as a painter, my creative journey began with sculpture.
I studied for a BA (Hons) in Sculpture, where I first discovered my love of plaster as a creative medium. Even though my practice has evolved into painting, that sculptural way of thinking has never left me. I still think about form, rhythm and movement long before I think about colour.
After completing my degree, I trained as an art teacher and spent over twelve years teaching art in schools, colleges and further education, culminating in becoming Head of Art.
Teaching gave me far more than a career.
It deepened my own understanding of observation, creativity and the importance of encouraging people to truly see rather than simply look.
One phrase I often shared with my students was:
"Spend more time looking at your subject than your paper."
It remains one of the guiding principles of my own practice today.
Later, I completed an MA in Fine Art – Contemporary Dialogues, continuing to develop both my practice and my understanding of contemporary painting.
Why the Sea?
People often ask why I return to the sea again and again.
The answer is simple.
No two waves are ever the same.
No two skies are ever identical.
The coastline is constantly changing, yet somehow always familiar.
The sea can be calm, powerful, reflective, uplifting or overwhelming, often all within the same day.
Those changing moods continue to inspire me, and they've become a language that runs throughout my work.
Many of my paintings explore that relationship between movement, memory and emotion.
Others celebrate places that hold deep personal meaning for the people who commission them.
Whether it's a favourite beach, a dramatic coastline or somewhere woven into a family's story, my hope is always the same — to create a painting that helps people reconnect with a place they love.
A Gallery by the Sea
Opening J W Frost Fine Art Gallery in Mumbles with my partner, Ian, has been one of the most rewarding chapters of my career.
While I'm usually painting in the studio just behind the gallery, Ian looks after the gallery itself and is often the first person to welcome visitors through the door.
Together we've created a relaxed and welcoming space where people can browse original paintings, discover the work of carefully selected guest artists and, whenever possible, meet the artist behind the paintings.
One of the things I love most about having a working gallery is that visitors experience more than just the finished artwork.
My studio sits directly behind the gallery, so there's often the opportunity to step through, see work in progress, ask questions about my process or simply enjoy a conversation about art.
Those conversations have inspired my Artist Journal, where I share the thinking behind my paintings, the places I visit and the ideas that continue to shape my work.
A Few Facts
Based: Mumbles, Swansea, South Wales
Gallery: J W Frost Fine Art Gallery
Education
- BA (Hons) Sculpture
- PGCE Art
- MA Fine Art – Contemporary Dialogues
Experience
- Professional artist for over 25 years
- Former Head of Art
- Gallery owner
- International commissions for private collectors
- Workshops and demonstrations
Thank You
Thank you for taking the time to visit my website.
Whether you've discovered my work through a painting, a recommendation, a commission enquiry or simply by chance, I hope you've found something here that resonates with you.
If you ever find yourself in Mumbles, you're always very welcome to call into the gallery. I'd be delighted to meet you, show you around and share the stories behind the paintings.
Warmest wishes,
Jo