Jennifer happened into painting upon her father's death 11 years ago when she realised that life was indeed short and she needed to use her crafty abilities in a more fulfilling way.

Hence, her career in painting began and continues. She enrolled at TAFE in 2005 to undertake the Diploma of Visual Arts. Now she is hosting her first solo exhibition at Lanskey's Saddleworld in Townsville.

She has put together a collection of 20 painting, featuring different mediums, including watercolour, fine detailed black and white, equine morph and mixed mediums.

"My primary interest is animals," Jennifer said. "I would love to establish myself as an animal/equine artist."

Jennifer works primarily from photographs, which she takes as she travels the countryside with her husband doing the horse show circuit. You may often find Jennifer snapping away with her tiny digital camera, or propped up against her Landcruiser steering wheel working on her painting.

"I am very lucky to also have photographer Dale Knuth who offers her photos to me to use as reference photos," she said.

Jennifer has been involved with horses (particularly those of the Shetland variety) for more than 30 years so it is no wonder that equines dominate her painting.

*Full story in this week’s North Queensland Register, out Thursday.