Jane Ford (b. 1953)
Jane Ford is a British painter born in North Staffordshire now living in Kent she exhibits and sells across the country represented by a number of established galleries as well as regular exhibitions in London and mostly the south east.
Originally trained for eight years at both art school and as an apprentice illustrator in the Potteries. She went on to be commercial Heads of Design for both Minolta and Ricoh before following her passion as a professional artist.
With an all-consuming interest in British Wildlife combined with her quirky, dark,
Northern sense of humour "the main subject of each painting is transformed from a
‘natural’ pose into a completely obscure and unusual setting".
"With a natural leaning towards the Gothic Genre which includes Victorian engines,
optical and astronomical instruments and even the Medieval inventions to add to the
mix, the term ‘Steam Punk’ is often used to describe Jane’s work.
Barewall are delighted to represent Jane Ford as her Staffordshire gallery. We are of course based in Burslem which no doubt gave rise to her Northern humour cited in her writings below:
"The paintings all tell a story, a very old fashioned way of painting, so each work can have several connotations, from Game birds alighting on pies to Hares transfixed by melancholia and chickens alluring foxes, all in a humorous framework. Perhaps stemming from a childhood mixture of Brer Rabbit, Jules Verne, Edgar Allen Poe and the Goons with a splash of 1940's film noir and 60's / 70's music."
"Each painting is carefully researched for anatomical, historical and natural accuracy and finally worked using the finest quality oils suspended in distilled Walnut oil for added viscosity. A technique reminiscent of the Dutch Renaissance or traditional way of English painting not usually taught now in Art Schools. This method of painting lends itself ideally to the work."
“The great diversity of British Wildlife and the imagination of connecting
birds and animals with unrelated objects opens up endless possibilities for
paintings.” And “The whole thing is brought together in the naming of the work… it’s
all in the title.”
The Early Years
Born in Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire in 1953.
Father was a well known classical singer Fred Ford whilst her uncle was head designer for Spode in the 50's and early 60's, Fred Robinson.
Schools: May Bank infants, Wolstanton Church of England Juniors, Westlands Girls and later The Edwards Orme.
1970 - Newcastle School of Art and from that the first solo show at the Newcastle Museum / Brampton Gallery.
1971 - Spend 18 months working for Garners of Burslem and K.H Bailey transferring to a 7 year apprenticeship in Graphic Art and Illustration at Warwick Savage in Burslem, encompassing study Fine Art at Longton School of Art and Stoke Polytechnic with Henry Pouch.
1979 - 1984 - 6 years Head of design at Photopia International, Newcastle under Lyme.
1984 - 1990 - 6 years Freelance designer and illustrator with Design agencies throughout the West Midlands.
Exhibited both in group and solo shows at Wavertree Gallery, Newcastle, Cotman Gallery Nantwich, Whitmore Gallery, Newcastle and more recently Opus Gallery in Ashborne.
1970's and 1980's worked as in house artist for Hood and Broomfield, Newcastle under Lyme.
1992 Sunday Times Watercolour Competition Finalist
Exhibitions: 2006-Present
Battersea Art Fair, Affordable Art Fair, Manchester Art Fair, Dublin Art Fair, Brighton Art Fair, Fulham Art Fair, September Art Fair, Pure Arts Fair, Fresh Art Fair, Pilgrims Way Artists Annual Exhibition. Best Artist in various media 2003,2004,2005,2006,2007,2011,2014,2015,2016,2018.
2004 - Commission to do 200 paintings for the Cambridge Belfry.
2006 - Hotel. First time an artist had been commissioned to do a whole hotel.
2008 - Commissioned paintings for Spa Hotel, Tunbridge Wells.
2010 - Royal Society of British Artists Exhibition, London, Joined Blackheath Gallery London, Joined Galleria San Maurizio, Venice.
2011 - Royal Society of British Artists Exhibition, London
2013 - Paintings selected for the international Exhibition and publication by the Davidoff Corporation.
2014-17 - Solo shows at the Saffron Gallery, Battle. Winmg Gallery, Wadhurst. Opus Gallery, Ashborne. Singing Soul Gallery, Cranbrook. Val Gould Gallery, Sandwich.
2016 - Special focus show at Fosse Gallery, Stow on the Wold. Joined Fosse Gallery.
2018 - Major Solo Show - November 2018 Fosse Gallery, Stow on the Wold.
2019 - Fresh Art Fair with Wing Gallery, Cheltenham and Ascot. April and September. Summer show at Fosse Gallery, June. Joined Barewall Gallery, Stoke on Trent.
