Irene Jones’ painting is captivating; the striking composition stops you first, an enigmatic look in her subject’s eyes hooks you, the pose and gestures engage you in the story. Objects and symbols held or in the background offer clues to an unexplained narrative and a series of smaller details complicates the plot.

The influence of her background in the theatre is evident in Irene’s work, there is always the sense of interruption, of entering the drama mid action, her love of costume and of historical reference too is clear. However these paintings are fixed in the 21st century, the themes of love, loss, desire, friendship and betrayal, timeless.