Jacqui Grantford

Biography

Jacqueline Grantford's earliest commissions as an artist began in Wheeler's Hill primary school where the other classmates would ask her to draw for them. She attended Korowa AGS for her secondary years where she demonstrated a strong interest in both music and art. She began learning the piano at 15 and entered into the Conservatorium of Music at Melbourne University when she finished school.

It was at this time, however, that she began to learn the violin and developed a passion for it. Deferring from University, she practised for a year completing Grade 6 AMEB, and then auditioned to major in the violin at the Conservatorium. She completed her Bachelor of Music in 1991 and taught music for a number of years. When her first child was born, however, he would cry every time Grantford played the violin, so she started to pursue a quieter vocation - art.

Since then she has been in numerous exhibitions and her work has become part of many private collections.

Grantford is a regular broadcaster for the Classical music station 3MBS 103.5 in Melbourne.

Career

Grantford has won numerous awards including a Certificate of excellence with the Portrait Society of America, The architecture section for the Master of Art International Art Prize in London, the People's Choice for the Black Swan Heritage Prize, 2014, and the People's Choice for the Black Swan Portrait Prize, 2012.

She has been a finalist in numerous exhibitions including the Shirley Hannon Portrait Prize, the Portia Geach Portrait Prize, the Mortimore Art Prize, the Cricket Art Prize, the ANL Mariners art Prize, and the Waverley Art Prize.

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.

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 Mitchell AC, Tony Gould AM, Simon Madden, Damien Oliver, Catherine Crock, Christi Malthouse, Andrew Rule, Danny Finley, Mike Brady, James Money, Robina Beard OAM, Ann James, Stephanie Copus-Campbell, Geoff Cox (Coxy), Diego Velasco and Gemma Sisia.