Talented Jill has hit gold by featuring at prestigious London exhibition

Talented Saddleworth-based artist Jill Woods has hit gold.

The mixed-media artist just landed the chance to exhibit at the OXO Gallery and Bargehouse on London’s South Bank, a stones-throw from Tate Modern at a fantastic exhibition of some the country’s brightest new artists.

Said Jill: "This is a dream come true for me.

"I entered the Chaiya Art Awards 2023 Awe and Wonder competition in June 2022 and didn’t hear anything for ages.

"All three pieces I submitted made it to the Longlist of 200, narrowed down from over 700.

"Then I got an email just before Christmas and couldn’t believe it!

"It was the best Christmas present ever."

The Chaiya Art Awards 2023 Awe and Wonder exhibition is showcasing over 100 art works in an affordable art collection, which includes interactive installation, textiles, photography and film, sculpture, ceramics and painting and drawing.

Running until April 16, it is a place to take time out from the hustle and bustle of city life and experience a little awe and wonder.

Jill added: "What I do is quite unique.

"My installation ‘Bathed in the Same Light’ plays with light and the piece is interactive.

"You need a phone torch to join in."

Jill first started creating art when she was four.

Interestingly, although she loved art at school, she did a degree in Anatomical Science.

It wasn’t until her mid-50s that Jill decided it was time to pursue her dream of being an artist.

She enrolled on the Foundation course at Oldham College in 2018 and then did a Masters degree at Huddersfield University at age 56.

"These courses completely changed my life," she added.

"They opened my eyes and gave me the chance to explore different techniques and materials.

"My love of light as a medium developed during my time at Huddersfield and my final piece, ‘The Light Shines in the Darkness’, was an exploration of the use of mixed-media installation art in spiritual health and well-being.

"Unfortunately I came down with an illness the week before the exhibition so I drafted in my daughter Bella to help me install my piece.

"Bella is also very artistic and an accomplished collage artist.

"I am thrilled to be exhibiting in London for the first time, but in a perfect world I’d earn my living producing art and be exhibiting internationally.

"But this is a fantastic opportunity and I am going to invite some artists I really respect to come and see my work, see what they think."

Jill’s work, ‘Bathed in the Same Light’, is at the Chaiya Art Awards 2023 Awe and Wonder Exhibition, OXO Gallery and Bargehouse, Bargehouse St, South Bank, SE1 9PH until April 16, 11-6pm daily (4pm on last day).

It's free admission.

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