Now in her 60th decade, Jan is a wife, mother, and grandmother who has retired from both her antique business and beauty salon. She has been drawing and painting for fourteen years, with her interest in creating emerging whilst studying History of Art with the Open University. It was during her time spent sketching during gallery visits that she discovered she loved to draw.
While living in Florida, her first drawing tutor, an ‘old-school’ elderly gentleman, was a professional cartoonist. She then studied with an RA trained artist and learned to paint, initially using classical methods, including from life. On returning to London, Jan continued classes sporadically, and particularly benefited from Tim Benson, who has exhibited in the Mall Galleries and the BP Award at the National Portrait Gallery. Jan has since studied at the Harrow Arts Centre, firstly with Angela Pearcey, and now with a professional artist, Roy Rodgers.
Jan continues to research and study the Old Master methods, incorporating and reflecting her findings in her paintings – a recent change from the experimentation which is shown in her earlier works. The connections between Art History and her painting has become increasingly important in sustaining her artistic motivation and skills.
Jan exhibits and undertakes commissions in portraiture, city and landscapes, and still life. Working both from life and her own photographs, she creates in a private studio in London, surrounded by her garden.
Jan is a member of Barnet Guild of Artists, Herts Visual Art and Radlett Arts Society. She has exhibited at The Reel Cinema, Foyer Gallery, Hampstead School of Art, Harrow Arts Centre and with the Herts Visual Arts Open Studio events and the Harrow Open Studios.