Jackie Simmonds started painting in her thirties, attending art school as a full-time 'mature student', and is now a busy and successful painter as well as an art instruction author. She exhibits her original works regularly in galleries in London and the UK, and reproductions of her work are sold worldwide. An excellent communicator, Jackie writes for The Artist magazine and runs occasional workshops and painting holidays. She is also the author of three other books and has made six art instruction videos.