Jane Warburton: Exploring Life Through Art

Local artist JANE WHARBURTON tell us about herself and share some of her images

Self portrait

My husband and I moved here in September 2014. Newly married, we were looking to move to a new area and following a weekend break at Ffald-y-Brenin in the Gwaun Valley, we knew immediately that we wanted to live in such a beautiful area. We have just recently moved to Fishguard from Dinas Cross.Our favourite spots have been walking the beach at Newport and the moorland above Dinas where you can get a 360-degree view of the Preselis, the coastline and way over to Milford Haven. On a good day you can also see the Llyn Peninsula. Wonderful!

I have recently retired from working as a counsellor. I never gave another thought to what I might be doing with my time after retirement but was blessed to find on picking up a paintbrush, during the lockdown period of 2020, that I was able to cobble something together which wasn’t altogether unworthy of my time. I haven’t put down a paintbrush since.

I have painted many different genres. Finding a niche seems difficult as I have declared on occasions that I can’t paint landscape, only to find that, well, perhaps I can after all.

I love the fact that you can learn so much about yourself through the process of art. It can be so frustrating at times but also exhilarating, obsessive and testing. I do enjoy portraiture as I work to capture that je ne sais quoi that we all have and that makes us who we are. In the counselling room I spent a lot of time actively listening to my clients but also watching their faces and body language very closely so I think this possibly ties into why I am able to capture a likeness. I like to paint with acrylics and would probably describe myself as a realist trying hard not to be.

I have been a past member of Newport Art Group but defected to the Fishguard Arts Society on moving to Fishguard. I have entered a couple of exhibitions and more recently exhibited in Fishguard library with Mel Wilmott’s art class which I have been attending for the past two years. Last month I exhibited at Parc L’Oriel in St Davids with the Fishguard Arts Society. I am now feeling more confident about my portrait work, and feel ready to take some commissions.

My favourite works are my portraits and particularly ones that I have done for my family, some of which I post here.

For the past two months, I have also been working on a banner for Bethel Church in Fishguard of which my husband, Neil, is minister. I designed it and worked it myself, sourcing material from clothes in charity shops. I have never done anything like it before and it has been a labour of love.

My faith in God and my walk with Jesus are everything to me and so it has been a privilege to be able to create such a piece as this.

If you interested in a portrait by Jane Warburton, call 07788 564009 or email janewarburton@live.co.uk.

Please note that the images shown here are Jane’s own work and are not to be copied.