Sho-Jen Dowell

About me

Self Portrait

I'm a Cambridge-based artist, and musician (https://sho-jen.co.uk), who studied Art in Taiwan (Tainan University of Technology).

Just like many children, when young I liked to draw mainly on the wall and floor, and experiment with different media (I mean every ingredient you can find in the kitchen)! These activities made my childhood rather happy, despite being told off by adults a lot!

I started formal art training at a very young age, required by primary school to do extra Chinese calligraphy, and painting tuition, and out-of-school private tuition. Before I entered Art school, I had already been schooled in both Chinese and western artistic disciplines.

Chinese literature always speaks to me. Buddhist teaching and Taoist philosophy enhance both my thought, and my brush stroke! My paintings tell of stories and places that touched my heart. Whether my art covers the whole canvas, or only a few strokes – it's me!

After I resigned as a peripatetic piano teacher for schools around Cambridgeshire, on top of my private music teaching, I decided to run demonstrations and workshops for Art societies. Since 2012, I have demonstrated and instructed at more than sixty societies around the area, including London. Throughout, by meeting like-minded artists, I have learnt not how to run a business, but how to be a good Artist, one needs to be a genuine person first!

I see Art and Music in each other. I love Bach as well as Schoenberg; and love Chinese ink as well as oils. To me, there's no boundary between the East and West, and I can be just like a child!