Carol Anne Jones I Visual Artist
My Story
MY STORY
Hello,
Welcome to my studio and thanks for stopping by!
I'm Carol Anne, and this is the space where my creativity, observations, and stories come together. I'm a visual artist and British citizen, currently working in Cairo while often moving between here and my home in Cheshire, England. This is the story of my journey: a story shaped by memory, experience, and a lifelong practice rooted in attention, care, and a daily commitment to exploring the world through my eyes.
CHAPTER ONE
Roots & Early seeing
"Growing up close to nature, with no television and only the radio, I spent my afternoons walking through the landscape and holidays at the lake."
My ideas give rise to artworks focused in series format. Each series explores notions of place and space across different moments in time, drawn from lived experience, memory, and careful observation—a perspective shaped early in my life.
I was born in Dumbarton, Scotland, and moved with my family to Malawi at six months old. We settled in a neighbourhood called Sunnyside, near Blantyre, during a period of high hope and intense political organising, as the country transitioned from a colonial protectorate to self-governance. Growing up close to nature, with no television and only the radio, I spent my afternoons walking through the landscape and holidays at the lake. These early experiences taught me to respect the beauty and danger of nature, understand my place within it, and recognise its power. Surrounded by vibrant colours, textures, and the rhythms of daily life, I developed an early fascination with observation and storytelling—foundations that continue to shape my work as a visual artist.
CHAPTER TWO
YORKSHIRE & FINDING ART
"Sketching excursions with her group gave me practical experience and a love for observing the rugged Yorkshire landscapes, people, and the world around me."
When my family returned to England, I spent my teenage years in Yorkshire, experiencing a kind of reverse culture shock: the climate was colder, and life moved differently. Gradually, I adjusted and began to see my national culture through fresh eyes, discovering traditions, foods like sticky toffee pudding and fish and chips, and the rhythms of English life in a way I had never experienced before.
During those years, my teachers recognised my talent in art, and a spirited 75-year-old neighbour introduced me to Sunday watercolour painting. Sketching excursions with her group gave me practical experience and a love for observing the rugged Yorkshire landscapes, people, and the world around me. Encouraged by my high school art teacher, I pursued formal education in the arts at York College and Leeds University. Initially drawn to fashion design, I soon focused on fine art, refining my technical skills and developing a disciplined approach to visual inquiry.
CHAPTER THREE
italy, EXPLORING & coming home
"Immersed in the light that drifts across the lakes, the simple cuisine, and slower rhythms of life, I found joy in observing the world more closely."
Graduating into an England undergoing economic restructuring, with high unemployment in Yorkshire, presented challenges. Industrial decline and a shift toward the service sector made the landscape appear lacking in possibilities for a young artist. An opportunity to visit the USA and Australia broadened my perspective and experiences, and upon returning to England I worked in advertising for a newspaper, taking on freelance illustration projects that allowed me to continue developing my skills and visual language.
A move to Northern Italy marked a turning point. Immersed in the light that drifts across the lakes, the simple cuisine, and slower rhythms of life, I found joy in observing the world more closely. Meals made from fresh, simple ingredients are shared slowly with family and friends, and traditions like the evening passeggiata reflect a pace that values connection, conversation, and living piano. In many ways, it reminded me of the simple pleasures of my childhood in Malawi: being close to nature and noticing the small details of everyday life. This period, along with the arrival of my son, allowed me to balance life, work, and creativity while refining my approach to observation, place, and storytelling.
Life has moved on since then, and my focus shifted toward teaching art internationally while continuing to develop my own practice. Throughout this journey, the experiences of life—navigating economic uncertainty, understanding different cultural perspectives, raising a child, and delighting in moments of beauty—have revealed that the most meaningful achievements often come from creating opportunities, some serendipitous, others from conscious effort and preparation.
PHILOSOPHY
ART REFLECtS LIFE
"I am inspired by artists who investigate reality and reveal hidden layers."
I believe that art reflects life. From Jackson Pollock's work rooted in observing chaotic patterns in the natural world, to Caravaggio's ability to capture the luminosity of fleeting light, to Gerhard Richter's restless curiosity about how painting can represent the world, I am inspired by artists who investigate reality and reveal hidden layers. In my studio, my work seeks to explore spaces and places across different moments in time, drawing on investigative reality, memory, and recollection. These fragments form atmospheric visual artworks that sit between notions of the real and the imagined. I hope you'll find a connection with my work.
I cordially invite you to explore my website and discover the world I create through art. Art has been the constant thread in my life, grounding me while creating a sanctuary to reflect and understand life better. I believe art is for everyone, and you are welcome to join my newsletter to learn more.
Warm regards,
