About Jo
A love of Jersey cows that found its way around the world
“Cows are iconic in Jersey and close to my heart. I only made the connection later.”
Jo and her sisters bringing the empty milk cans back down the avenue after collection.
Early mornings, milk cans and cows with very long eyelashes
I grew up at L'Hermitage in St John, where Mum and Dad had around 20 Jersey cows, as well as pigs and hens. Dad was up at half past four to start milking, and one of my earliest memories is waking to the sound of the milking machine.
But for me, the best part of farm life was always the cows.
Jo's sister and dad with one of the cows and her calf at L'Hermitage Farm.
The calves had enormous eyes and the longest eyelashes. I used to take them for walks on a string down the farm track, where they would skip about beside me. The bigger cows were just as friendly, particularly if there was a good scratch under the chin on offer!
I think that's where my soft spot for Jersey cows began.
Life at L'Hermitage Farm
Farm life was hard work, but as children we simply knew it as home: milk cans at the top of the avenue, calves in the fields and cows with wonderfully individual personalities.
Although my family eventually left the farm, my love of Jersey cows never really went away.
It all started with one tiny cow…
In 2017 I painted a little Jersey cow on a pebble. I called her Jo, and I kept her.
Then I had a thought.
Wouldn't it be lovely if a little piece of Jersey could travel the world?
So more cows followed. Each was painted by hand, given a name and sent off on an adventure.
And that's how the Herd began.
The first cow, “Jo”, started a herd that would travel the world.
Nearly 250 journeys later…
The best part is never knowing where they'll turn up next
A cow might appear beside a famous landmark, on a beach, halfway up a mountain, or somewhere I'd never even heard of before.
Every time a new photograph arrives, it's exciting.
