History

Jane High is an animal portrait artist from Essex, England.  She has been passionate about art from a very young age, always to be found with her head in an animal encyclopedia researching different species.  Jane started drawing with charcoal and graphite at this point, graduating to pastels as a teenager which have remained her favourite medium.

Jane started to pursue her love of art in earnest in the early 90’s, when her family were more independent and has continued as an artist ever since.  Although Jane has produced many paintings using a variety of subject matter, she has settled over the last several years on her favourite pastime of painting animals, both wild and domestic.  So on reflection she has travelled full circle by returning to her childhood desire and painting from the heart.

Jane was a resident artist at Hadleigh Old Fire Station in central Hadleigh, Essex for ten years before relocating to Ipswich, Suffolk.  Jane undertakes work on a commission basis, delivers private tuition and facilitates workshops/demos.  Additional images of Jane’s work can be found on her Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/JaneHighAnimalPortraits and on her Instagram account at  https://www.instagram.com/janehigh51/

During the summer of 2021 Jane was one of the selected artists who participated in the ‘Hares About Town’ art trail, which ran for 10 weeks from the 1st July to the 12th September, where beautiful sculptures of hares were displayed in the streets and surrounding areas of Southend-on-Sea. The culmination of the event saw the hares auctioned at The Boundary, Garon Park to raise vital funds for Havens Hospices.  Jane’s hare, ‘Sunrise’ sold at auction for £6,100.00.

Awards

Jane has received a number of awards for her work, amongst them the ‘Eric Brinklow’ award for the Best Drawing and ‘The Thompson Cup’ for the Best in Show in 2010 for an oil painting of a lion, titled Savannah Sunset.  Jane has also had works accepted and sold in the Essex Open Exhibition where she was awarded with a Highly Commended.

Jane regularly exhibits her work in Essex venues and galleries and has also exhibited in local art trails including the Thundersley, Brentwood and Hadleigh Art Trail, from 2012 to 2018.  During the summer of 2012 the Society of Women Artists accepted Jane’s oil painting of a giraffe, titled Vulnerable, which was displayed in their 151st exhibition at the Mall Galleries in London.

During the month of January 2014, the SAA (Society of all Artists) published an article in their ‘Paint Magazine’ featuring Jane as one of their Professional Associates by showcasing her work.