I’m Joyce James (JJ), a member of Exmouth Art Group. I’ve always loved arts and crafts - glass painting, tile painting, and ceramics - but it wasn’t until the pandemic that I truly embraced painting, thanks to encouragement from my husband. Now, I rarely put the paintbrush down.

There’s something magical about a blank canvas as ideas begin to take shape. I spend hours in my garden cabin, immersed in my art, often with classical music playing and a cup of coffee - or a glass of wine - by my side.

I’m lucky to draw inspiration from my husband and son’s photography (pmj.photos), and I enjoy experimenting with a variety of media: watercolours, pastels, acrylics, inks, and more recently, oils - which I’m now hooked on!

Our elderly spaniel Ruby used to keep me company in the cabin, but my current rescue dog, Teddy, prefers mischief to lounging - so I’m often painting with a brush in one hand and him in the other.

A corner of a room with white wooden walls decorated with numerous landscape paintings. There is a green wicker chair with a cushion, and a small table with stacks of magazines or books.

Art studio workspace with landscape paintings on the wall, art supplies on the table and shelves, and a colorful tablecloth.

Collection of landscape paintings of coastal scenes on a gallery wall, featuring beaches, cliffs, ocean waves, and rocky shores.