Jay Goodwin (b.1967) is an American born UK artist living and working in the heart of Essex.

Predominantly a portrait painter, Jay’s preferred medium is oil on canvas which he feels suits his method of exploration and passion of portraiture. He enjoys the diversity it offers, transitioning between traditional and modern painting techniques, exploiting oils unique qualities. Jay often favours a monochromatic pallet, allowing the absence of colour to bring an intense and timeless atmosphere to the narrative.

Jay was unable to paint for a period of time after loosing his sight. Having undergone multiple operations he recently regained the sight in one eye and with the help of his doctors and a bespoke contact lens, he’s now able to paint for a few hours each day and is eager to continue on his artistic journey and share his work with a wider audience.

Jay has always been deeply invested in the emotional and psychological aspects portraiture evokes. During his time as an artist with sight loss he developed a tactile understanding towards form which aids and influences the creation of his current works, informing the visual values of his portraits and bringing a sculptural quality to the painting.

His intention is to create emotive works that are both visually striking and deeply personal to the viewer. Jay captures an intimate moment in time, simultaneously conveying both the strength and vulnerability of the subject. Through the nuance of expression, the perfection of light, shadow and texture, Jay’s style of portraiture is unmistakably his own.