Out of Chaos Paintings
“I started these while my Mum’s dementia was beginning to spin out of control. I followed the lead of my body, painting larger canvases than I was used to and letting my physical self decide the strokes.”
The paintings are process based. They capture the swirl and clash of sensory input both external and internal, then move gradually to a softening, blurring and harmonising of colour.
In the chaos, two got torn. The repairing itself led the work forward. The first repairs were pink iridescent tissue paper mimicking suture strips or darning (a process Jo dubbed a ‘tender prayer for repair’. Over that are patches cut from older canvases and paintings with ghost images of moons. These became time portals, jumping off points to access ideas and solutions that may not be available when the world feels too chaotic.
Out Of Chaos (When The Rains Come)
acrylic paint, canvas patch (made from repurposed earlier work), painted tissue paper on canvas
91 x 121.5 x 3.5 cm
2026
£4,975
This painting was rotated regularly while being painted, so it has no ‘right way up’, but can be hung in any favourite orientation. Signed and dated on the back. The portal is made from a work on paper that I painted in my Irish studio while caring my mother, and transparent tissue paper moon.
Out Of Chaos (Paper Moon)
acrylic paint, paper patch (made from repurposed earlier work), painted tissue paper, glaze on reclaimed canvas
91 x 121.5 x 3.5 cm
2026
£4,975
This painting was rotated regularly while being painted, so it has no ‘right way up’, but can be hung in any favourite orientation. Signed and dated on the back. The portal is made from a work on paper that I painted in my Irish studio while caring my mother, and transparent tissue paper moon.
Out Of Chaos (Lion Moon)
acrylic paint, canvas patch (made from repurposed earlier work), glaze on canvas
89.5 x 119 x 2 cm
2026
£4,795
This is one of two in the series with a ‘prayer for tender repair’ Here I was thinking of some of the repair that needed to happen within the family after my mother died. The portal is made from a canvas I painted in my Irish studio while caring my mother. The canvas was rotated regularly while being painted, so it has no ‘right way up’, but can be hung in any favourite orientation. It’s signed and dated on the back.
Out Of Chaos (Dark Moon)
acrylic paint, paper patch (made from repurposed earlier work), painted tissue paper, glaze on reclaimed canvas
89.5 x 119 x 2 cm
2026
£4,795
This canvas was rotated regularly while being painted, so it has no ‘right way up’, but can be hung in any favourite orientation. It’s signed and dated on the back. The portal is made from a work on paper that I painted in my Irish studio while caring my mother.
Out Of Chaos (Glitter Moon)
acrylic paint, canvas patch (made from repurposed earlier work), eco glitter, glaze on canvas
89.5 x 119 x 2 cm
2026
£4,795
This painting was rotated regularly while being painted, so it has no ‘right way up’, but can be hung in any favourite orientation. Signed and dated on the back. The portal is made from a canvas I painted in my Irish studio while caring my mother.
Out Of Chaos (Ghost Moon)
acrylic paint, patch (made from raw canvas) glaze on canvas
89.5 x 119 x 2 cm
2026
£4,795
This painting was rotated regularly while being painted, so it has no ‘right way up’, but can be hung in any favourite orientation. Signed and dated on the back. One of two in the series with a ‘prayer for tender repair’ Here I was thinking of some of the repair that needed to happen within the family after my mother died. The portal is made from raw canvas so the paint could seep all the way through.
Out Of Chaos (Joyous Moon)
acrylic paint, tissue paper, eco glitter and glaze on canvas
71 x 100.5 x 2.5 cm
2026
£1,900
This paint has ‘tamed’ areas and others are left wild. It expresses the joy and creativity that can come from chaos or letting go of control. The glitter areas are finished with glaze while the rest has satin varnish.
Out Of Chaos (Double Jump)
acrylic paint, canvas patches made from repurposed earlier work) tissue paper, eco glitter and glaze on canvas
71 x 100.5 x 2.5 cm
2026
£1,900
This paint has ‘tamed’ areas and others are left wild. It expresses the joy and creativity that can come from chaos or letting go of control. The glitter areas are finished with glaze while the rest has satin varnish.