Jaq Grantford is an Australian portrait artist, fine artist and illustrator. She is also known by the names Jacqui Grantford for her children's books and Jacqueline for more formal occasions. She regularly contributes arts interviews to the radio station3MBS, 103.5 fm, a Classical radio station in Melbourne.
Biography
Jaq Grantford's earliest commissions as an artist began at age 7 in Wheeler's Hill primary school where the other classmates would ask her to draw for them. She has continued this tradition, now painting portraits by commission world wide. She has been in numerous exhibitions and her work has become part of many private collections. Grantford is a regular contributor to the Classical music station 3MBS 103.5 in Melbourne with arts interviews.
Career
Grantford has won numerous awards including a Certificate of excellence with the Portrait Society of America, The Master of Art International Art Prize in London, the People's Choice for the Shirley Hannan Portrait Prize, the People's Choice for the Black Swan Heritage Prize, and the People's Choice for the Black Swan Portrait Prize. She has been a finalist in numerous exhibitions including the Fominar Art Prize, the Shirley Hannon Portrait Prize, the Portia Geach Memorial Award, the Mortimore Art Prize, the Cricket Art Prize, the ANL Mariners art Prize, and the Waverley Art Prize. In addition to working as a portrait artist and fine artist Grantford has been successfully publishing books since 2002. A True Person written by Gabian Marin was one of the 250 outstanding new international books for children and young adults that have been selected for The White Ravens 2008. This book along with Squeezy Cuddle Dangly Legs written by Peter Whitfield and Molly's Memory Jar by Norma Spalding have been listed as recommended books in the Family Therapist Awards. She has painted portraits of many well-known people, including Jacki Weaver, Johnny Young, Bud Tingwell, Mick Malthouse, Eddie Ayres and Elena Kats-Chernin. In April 2011 Jacqui held an exhibition of works depicting hands from all walks of life - hands from everyday people and well known people. Each hand portrait was accompanied by a story of the subject, many being quite inspirational. Some of the well known people included in the exhibition were Harold MitchellTony Gould, Simon Madden, Damien Oliver, Catherine Crock, Christi Malthouse, Andrew Rule, Mike Brady, Robina Beard, Ann James, Stephanie Copus-Campbell, Geoff Cox and Gemma Sisia.
Picture books written and illustrated by Jacqui Grantford
