The Kettering & District Art Society is one of the oldest art societies in the UK, with roots going back to the beginning of the cultural and art world of Kettering with founding members such as Sir Alfred East, John Cooper Gotch, Spencelay and Gash. The 118th Exhibition Private View was fun and well attended with many appreciative comments about the standard of this year’s submission. ARTworks Creative Space is now four years old, going from a little pop-up to a mature galle

Three days in the Tea Room for a group Northants Open Studios pre-September pop-up. My latest work ‘Dao, the Rice Planters’. One Spring into the next, the timeless work of planting rice.

My work ‘The Water Skimmers’ was selected for this excellent exhibition at the modern and light-filled Rugby Art Gallery. It’s a piece from 2022 which was inspired by my concern about the amount of plastic waste in our seas and how this will only deteriorate over time if nothing is done.

My painting ‘Gymnasium’ was exhibited at the beginning of the year. It came about as part of mark making and inspiration of colour and moving shapes and forms on the canvas and slowly an image appears. Ideas develop in an expressionistic way out of which an abstract narrative comes together.

They all hid portraits of themselves in their works, so here’s a sneak peek at my latest canvas in my series on the environment: plastic waste, melting glaciers, the impact of fossil fuels, the destruction of the Amazon and in this new work, how a devastated world might look when climate change and environmental and ecological destruction has taken its toll. I’m in there, and my Muse took a photo of me and my self-portrait as well!

Another very successful Exhibition where I exhibited my latest work ‘Migration’.

In 2022 I took part in a Kettering & District Art Society project inviting artists to paint Kettering’s High Street as part of the KettFest Festival with an exhibition of work at ARTworks Creative Space in the Newlands Centre in the centre of town. This gallery was set up by the Friends of Kettering Art Gallery and Museum as a way of promoting art and culture in Kettering and fund raising for theAlfred East Gallery. My work entitled KettFest was subsequently sold to a Private

I entered my portrait ‘Is this the Pearl Earring’ into the Rooftop Arts Centre in Corby Portrait Exhibition. A fabulous exhibition with a high standard of work.

Over the first two weekends in September local artists created their own Views of the High Street across Kettering town centre thanks to support from Historic England and North Northants Council. I was working in oils and other artists were using a range of media including watercolours, graffiti art, ceramics, digital and interactive art for children and adults alike. This project was part of the High Street Heritage Action Zone to celebrate the architecture, people and herit

I’m thrilled to tell you that at the recent Northants Open Studios ceremony I was awarded the Prize for Artiste Extraordinaire!

My oil painting ‘Allegory’ for the Wicksteed Contemporary Art Exhibition is an allegory of the changing fortunes of the park, using the ebb and flow of light and shadow. The carousel and female figure are a symbolic narrative: not solely rides, attractions and visitors — she’s a harbinger of the destiny of the park, walking away from or towards difficult or optimistic times, which can go either way. Her direct and penetrating gaze challenges us to choose innovation and evolut

Welcome to my digital portfolio, a collection of selected artworks, exhibitions and creative projects that reflect my artistic journey and development.

Delighted that Waddenhoe and The Water Carriers have been accepted for the Rugby Art Gallery Open 2020. Due to Covid restrictions the Gallery won’t be opening on 11 December but the exhibition will be online and on social media and they plan to reopen the Gallery to the public once the tier system has loosened. Website: www.ragm.co.uk Facebook: Rugby Art Gallery and Museum @ArtsinRugby Facebook: Jack Watto Art Instagram: Rugby Gallery and Museum rugby_gallery Twitter@RugbyGal