Jo Ann Welch was born in a small town just north of Houston, Texas in 1969. Throughout her childhood she was drawn to art and could often be found drawing instead of playing. At the age of twelve she began taking oil painting classes and continued her study of art through junior high and high school.

After high school Jo Ann’s creative focus turned to design. She attended The Art Institute of Houston where she earned an Associates of Applied Arts in Interior Design. After design school her attention returned to painting, this time in acrylics. She exhibited her work at Image Gallery in Houston before moving to Nantucket in 1999.

In 2001 Jo Ann became an Artist Member of The Artists’ Association of Nantucket, still painting in acrylics. She has since returned to oil painting, participating in shows on and off-island. Her work is exhibited at The Artist’s Association of Nantucket and the restaurant Cambridge Street Victuals.