Jo Ernst is a professional artist, formerly from the Blue Mountains and now based in Mooral Creek, a small community in the hinterland of the Manning Valley. Jo has been involved in the arts all of her working life.

In 1980 she completed Dress Design at National Art School and worked as a couturier designer for 18 years. This was overlapped by studies in Fine Art in France with Ted Seth Jacobs and a further three years at Paddington Art School with Stephen Wesley Gorton. Leading to a later career as a visual artist and teacher. She has now been teaching, exhibiting and selling her work for over 30 years.

Inspired by portrait artists working on the streets of Europe, Jo has drawn and sold hundreds – if not thousands – of portraits drawn from life. She has been hired as a portrait artist for events held at venues such as the Art Gallery of NSW and the South Australian Museum. In early 2018 an exhibition of more than 200 figurative works papered the walls, floor to ceiling, of the Manning Regional Art Gallery.

The recipient of numerous prizes such as the Taree Open and Singleton Art Prize. Jo has also been a selected finalist in the Kilgour Prize, Adelaide Perry Prize for Drawing, Manning Art Prize, and the Naked and Nude. Her work is held in private collections nationally and internationally.