Jo Cottam was a student at Falmouth College of Art in 1986. Continuing her studies there, she went on to obtain an HND in Ceramic Design, which was followed by a year at the University of Idaho, where she studied Fine Art and Ceramics. Some years later she returned to Falmouth to take a BA (Hons) in Studio Ceramics. Subsequently, at Rolle College, Exmouth, she obtained a PGCE in Secondary School Art. After teaching in Somerset, she returned to Cornwall in 2000 as Head of Art at the Roseland Academy.