I’m Jill Blakey, an abstract artist based in Buckingham, UK. I create vibrant, one-of-a-kind original abstract paintings, working predominantly with acrylic and spray paint on stretched canvas. My work is bold, energetic and intuitive, designed to bring colour, movement and joy into your space.

Before becoming a full-time artist, I spent many years immersed in the world of numbers. I’m a lifelong maths geek, with a Mathematics degree from the University of St Andrews and a long career as a secondary school Maths teacher. I loved the clarity of algebra and the satisfaction of getting the “right” answer. But alongside that logical world, I was always experimenting with creative mediums, searching for something that truly felt like me.

Abstract art changed everything.

In abstract art, there are no rules — it can’t be wrong. That freedom was incredibly liberating. Early on, I used to ask people what they liked or didn’t like about my paintings, as if I could find a winning formula. But the feedback was always the same: it simply made them feel good when they looked at it. That realisation was a turning point. Art doesn’t need explaining — it just needs to be felt.

I paint intuitively, with no plan. I let my instincts take over and allow the painting to evolve naturally. Often, the meaning or inspiration becomes obvious only after the piece is finished, as if the painting has revealed something from my subconscious. Many of my abstract paintings have an urban undertone, undoubtedly influenced by the ten years I spent living in South London.

In 2020, just before lockdown, I moved from London to Buckinghamshire with my young family. This shift, along with my lifelong love of interior design — inspired by my wonderful antique dealer parents — has deeply influenced my work. I create paintings to live with: artworks that make people feel happy, lift a room, and become colourful focal points in a home.

Every painting I create is original, expressive and made with joy. If my work makes you smile, pause, or simply feel something — then it’s done its job.