Jay Jones (aka FunnyTummy)
Shrewsbury, United Kingdom
Artist Jay Jones (also known as FunnyTummy) creates contemporary paintings that blend portraiture, abstraction, and graphic storytelling, drawing on themes of nostalgia, identity, and modern visual culture. "Through my paintings, I aim to reconnect viewers with a sense of imagination, curiosity, and emotional memory," says Jay. Inspired by early influences such as comic books, video games, and animated films, his work reflects the lasting impact of visual culture on personal identity and creative expression. His artistic journey began in childhood and evolved into a professional practice in his early twenties, first through album artwork before transitioning fully into fine art. Working primarily in oil and ink, he builds layered compositions that balance expressive brushwork with graphic precision. Based in England, he works from a compact, highly functional studio that often fills with finished canvases awaiting collection. Outside the studio, he travels frequently, using photography to capture moments that later inform his work, while maintaining a deep connection to the comics, gaming, and cinema that continue to shape his visual language.
Artist Statement
I am a UK-based artist working primarily in oil paint and ink, creating contemporary paintings that blend portraiture, abstraction, and graphic storytelling. My work explores the relationship between nostalgia, identity, and modern visual culture, drawing from the bold imagery of 1990s video games, comics, and cinema.
I use oil paint for its depth, richness, and ability to build layered surfaces, allowing me to create expressive compositions that merge traditional painterly techniques with graphic influences. Ink plays an important role in defining structure and contrast, balancing fluid brushwork with precise line. My work is driven by a fascination with how early visual experiences shape imagination and personal identity. Growing up immersed in gaming culture, comic books, and animated storytelling, I continue to draw on these influences to inform the characters, symbolism, and visual language in my paintings.
Alongside these nostalgic references, I occasionally explore contemporary social and political themes, adding moments of reflection within the work. My path as an artist began in childhood through a deep fascination with drawing and storytelling, and I later pursued art professionally in my early twenties, initially gaining recognition through album artwork for major record labels before transitioning into fine art.
Through my paintings, I aim to reconnect viewers with imagination, curiosity, and emotional memory, while continuing to expand the scale and ambition of my practice.
I use oil paint for its depth, richness, and ability to build layered surfaces, allowing me to create expressive compositions that merge traditional painterly techniques with graphic influences. Ink plays an important role in defining structure and contrast, balancing fluid brushwork with precise line. My work is driven by a fascination with how early visual experiences shape imagination and personal identity. Growing up immersed in gaming culture, comic books, and animated storytelling, I continue to draw on these influences to inform the characters, symbolism, and visual language in my paintings.
Alongside these nostalgic references, I occasionally explore contemporary social and political themes, adding moments of reflection within the work. My path as an artist began in childhood through a deep fascination with drawing and storytelling, and I later pursued art professionally in my early twenties, initially gaining recognition through album artwork for major record labels before transitioning into fine art.
Through my paintings, I aim to reconnect viewers with imagination, curiosity, and emotional memory, while continuing to expand the scale and ambition of my practice.
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