Jane graduated with a BA Honours degree in French and German from the University of Exeter and worked for several years, in London, in the book publishing industry. She began painting whilst teaching English in Japan, studying the art of Sumi-e, black ink wash painting, with a Master of the Art in Yokohama. She moved to The Netherlands and continued her training at the Werkschuit Art School in Gouda. Returning to the UK, she took up life painting and drawing, studying in classes and groups in London and Dorset.
In Yokohama, Japan
Jane has been studying portraiture for several years at The Heatherley School of Fine Art in Chelsea and at City Lit in Holborn, regularly painting models from life in oils. She is available for portrait commissions. She painted nine free oil portraits for NHS workers over the Covid lockdown. Her portrait of three nurses from Kings College Hospital, London, was included in celebrated artist, Tom Croft’s book ‘Portraits for NHS Heroes’, published by Bloomsbury in 2020.
My free portrait in oil on canvas, of three nurses working at Kings College, London in Tom Croft’s book (see below).
Artist Statement
‘I have always painted, but started my formal training with the art of Sumi-e whilst teaching in Japan. Linked to the Zen philosophy, Sumi-e is a meditational process, where one concentrates entirely on the present, and aims to capture the essence of the subject. Simplicity, purity and space are important within the composition of the painting. These elements have remained with me in my current work. I enjoy working plein air, when possible, or simply near to the sound of nature and silence. I am compelled to record vignettes of my world and to explore colour and the effects of light and reflected light on the form.’
Plein air sketching in Switzerland
Exhibitions and Publications
2020 Inclusion of my portrait of three nurses in Tom Croft’s book, ‘Portraits of NHS Heroes’, Bloomsbury Publishing (image below)
2020 My NHS portraits featured in an article in the British Medical Journal
2020 My portrait of an NHS Nurse featured in an article in The Sun newspaper (image below)
2020 Healthcare Heroes by Tom Croft, Google Arts and Culture, Online Exhibition
2020 The Heatherley School of Fine Art, Chelsea, Portrait Group Show
2019 ‘Semblance’ City Lit ‘ Year of the Figure and Portrait’ Group Show, Espacio Gallery, Shoreditch
2019 City Lit ‘ Year of the Figure and Portrait’ Mid Year Group Show, Holborn
2018 Ripley Art Centre, London, Group Show
2017 Dulwich Art Group, Dulwich Open Studio Art Weeks
2017 Ripley Art Centre, London, Group Show
2017 Old Bank Gallery, Hayes, Summer Exhibition
2016 Bromley Adult Education Summer Art Exhibition
2014 Ramsbury, Marlborough, Open Studio
2013 Ramsbury Marlborough, Open Studio
2009 Shaftesbury, Dorset, Open Studio
2008 Shaftesbury, Dorset, Open Studio
1998-2005 Various summer Art exhibitions with Bromley Adult Education
1994 -1996 Various exhibitions with The Werkschuit Art School, Gouda, The Netherlands
1992-1993 Various exhibitions with The Yokohama International Sumi e Association, Yokohama, Japan
My free portrait in oil on canvas, of an NHS Nurse at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary featured in an article in The Sun newspaper
Life painting in the studio at Heatherleys School of Fine Art
At Monet’s Garden, Giverny
Working on a landscape in the studio