Jenny Oldknow

“As I am losing visual acuity of the physical world around me, I have moved the focus of my art onto the interior world of memory, emotion and feeling—human experiences we all share.” 

Jenny Oldknow in a 2016 interview with the Vision & Art Project

Biography

Born in Lincolnshire, England, Oldknow’s childhood was spent in a rural environment which sparked a passion for the landscape and the natural world. This has always been the primary inspiration on her art.

She now lives in Derbyshire, in the heart of England, with a studio on the doorstep of the stunning Peak District National Park. Daily walks in the countryside with her dog and sketchbook provide a rich source of subject material.

Since being diagnosed with early onset macular degeneration in her twenties, Oldknow’s work has gradually evolved, and continues to do so, as she deals with the changes to her vision. This includes using jet black ink when drawing to make dark bold marks in contrast to the paper, and a move to creating more abstract compositions using the malleable and tactile qualities of oil paint.

Oldknow’s professional success has taken place post-macular degeneration. She exhibits her work across the world and has won numerous awards, including at the National Exhibition of Wildlife Art, The Royal Birmingham Society of Artists, the Association of Animal Artists and the Society of Wildlife Artists at the Mall Galleries in London. These awards span across a range of subjects and media, including watercolor, drawing and printmaking.