Women are becoming more powerful and influential. This power becomes even greater when women work together, according to artist Jenny Hill-Norton, who says it is absolutely true and vital for producing her most interesting work.
So much so that she has co-founded Just Four, a group of highly skilled female artists who thrive on painting together.
Other members are Anthea Stilwell, Sophie Bartlett and Jo Ellis. The group first started working together three years ago – after previous art-related careers. Anthea as an art teacher at Harrow School, Jenny as a glass engraver and landscape gardener. Sophie as an interior decorator and Jo, who still works as a graphic designer.
“The four of us find that we produce our best and most inspirational paintings while working together,” says Jenny, whose daughter Claudia is married to ITV’s political editor Tom Bradby while other daughter Tamara with son Simon both founded Sweaty Betty, the iconic fashion brand, soon to open a New York store.
“There is a dynamism, which makes it very exciting. The energy generated by the four of us working together is far greater than that produced by four artists working on their own – and painting by nature is a solitary activity. For instance, when we work together on a particular subject matter we help each other to stay fresh and refocus if we get bogged down. This happened when we were painting at Droxford, working outside then developing our drawings in the studio. To re-energise we produced a series of five minute watercolours – this process concentrates the mind wonderfully and ensures you pick out the key points. It creates an immediate result.”
Jenny adds: “Anthea has great experience and originality as a teacher and that helps steer us in the right direction – she never tells you directly what to do, rather pulling it out of us, which can be a real challenge all round. The difference in age among the Just Four members, a gap of more than decade, only injects an added dimension and enthusiasm. “Anthea and I are a little bit older than the other two,” she admits. “They’re at that point of starting a second career but we all have an underlying ambition and drive to be successful artists.”
Just Four is preparing for its first exhibition at The Gallery, 28 Cork Street, London between November 18 and November 23. There will be up to 160 paintings and drawings for sale including watercolours, oils, acrylics and mixed media. “It’s all experimental work covering a huge range of subjects - created for the sheer pleasure of painting,” says Jenny. Work will range from just £200 to no more than £1,000.
Just Four is joined by furniture artist Craig Narramore, who happens to be the only male exhibitor. He also enjoys a successful career in creating special effects and props in the film industry. His extraordinary art based furniture using natural wood and metals adds a 3D element to the exhibition and successfully compliments the work of Just Four contemporary artists.
