The moniker ‘Noa’ belongs to the artist Jennifer Wakeford. Jennifer has had a lifelong passion for art, and earned her HND in textile design before moving on to study at Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design in the 1980s. Born and raised in the foothills of the Angus glens, a stone’s throw from the north sea, Jennifer has a deep appreciation for Scotland’s ever-changing scenery and turbulent weather. She channels this into her semi-abstract works, which often feature sweeping skies and open meadows rendered in heavy textures and layers of paint. Drawing on cherished childhood memories of berry picking, weekends at her Granny’s farm, and riding in the back of her father’s milk delivery truck, she creates charming depictions of Scottish rural life that harken back to a simpler time. Her connection to her homeland was strengthened after spending six years living with her family in New Zealand. Noticing the stark contrast between the architectural style of the houses in Queenstown - made of timber frames with corrugated metal roofs - gave her a renewed appreciation for the sturdy stone and slate of Scotland’s but ‘n’ ben’s. A mother of four, Jennifer is very proud to work alongside her husband and children in the family business ‘Noa Art.’ It is named after her youngest daughter Noa, which translates in Maori to “free from restriction.” Signing all of her works with this name gives her an added level of creative freedom. An intuitive painter who favours acrylic on canvas, she loves to get lost in the feeling of a painting and often works late into the night until she feels her creation is complete. In addition to her landscapes she enjoys figurative studies that explore concepts of religion, childhood and femininity, and echo with an ever-present love of Scotland and the natural world.