In just a few years, Manchester-based artist Jacqueline Taylor has gone from not even realising she had artistic talent to having her work on permanent display at the Manchester Art Gallery and opening her own gallery in Altrincham.
Doodling on a sketchpad dreaming of getting out of an unfulfilling job that was going nowhere became much more than an enjoyable distraction for Jacqueline Taylor. For the then 39-year-old, it ignited an artistic spark, awakening a creative spirit that she didn’t even know she had.
When her shifts at her job at a call centre were over and her two young children had gone to bed, Jacqueline would relentlessly practice her newfound love of drawing well into the night. Aided by YouTube videos, books, and art programmes, the more she practiced and the better she got, the more determined she was to advance her creative journey.
Without any formal qualifications and having had no recognition of her artistic talent at school, Jacqueline decided to return to education and enrolled on a three-year degree in Fine Art at Salford University – no mean feat with a young family, mortgage, and demanding target-driven sales job.
The course was carried out remotely during lockdown, and it was during this challenging period that Jacqueline’s social realism oil paintings inventively captured the mood of the country. Her piece illustrating the Clap for Carers ritual entitled ‘Thursday 8pm’ was picked up by the Grayson Art Club that was broadcast during lockdown. Actress Liza Tarbuck, who selected the painting as a panellist on the show, described the timeless appeal of the work, saying: “I saw that and I thought, ‘in ten years’ time if that was seen anywhere, it would take us back to right now. So, I think it’s very sure of itself and it’s sure of its place in history.”
Tarbuck was right, as the nostalgic piece celebrating the heroicness of keyworkers during the pandemic, was selected to feature in Grayson Perry’s art exhibition at the Manchester Art Gallery. It is now part of the permanent collection at the gallery.
In the space of a few short years, this unassuming artist has gone from not even realising she had any artistic talent to having her artwork, which provocatively draws attention to real social conditions and encourages the viewer to make their own evaluation of emotive subjects, displayed in a number of high-profile exhibitions, including the Royal Academy of Arts 250th Summer Exhibition.
The Manchester-based artist is now opening a gallery in Altrincham. As well as displaying her own collection, Jacqueline hopes it will provide a creative hub for the community and inspire artists at all stages in their careers.
“Opening a gallery is not just about showcasing my work, but it’s also about fostering a creative community and helping others pursue their artistic dreams,” she says.
The opening event of the ‘Make the Piece’ gallery is taking place on February 24. And with fellow self-taught painter Lincoln Townley promising to attend, along with a host of other local artists, established and upcoming, it promises to be an exciting start to the next chapter of this remarkable artistic journey.
