As a child I always had a notebook in my hand, making marks and writing short verses, always full of colourful imagination. My childhood was spent holidaying in North Wales; visiting castles full of adventure, exploring rock pools on sandy beaches and being mesmerised by the sight and sound of the waves as they ebbed and flowed on the shoreline. Returning again as a teenager, youth hostelling, I discovered more of the coastal landscape and climbing in Snowdonia. My love of the area grew and so when the opportunity came to live on the beautiful Isle of Anglesey a few years later I didn’t hesitate. This coastal landscape of Anglesey and North Wales taps into all of my senses: the wide open spaces of the summer sky reflected in the deep blue sea with an unbroken horizon, the smell of the salty air, the feel of the warm, soft sand between my toes and the hypnotic sound of the waves lapping against the shore. These all help me get back to me with time moving not from hour to hour but from mood to moment, healing my heart, mind and soul.

Seasons bring new tones and hues to the landscape and are mood-reflective, from the subdued colours of winter through the hope that is spring to the clear blue skies and golden summer sun which are forever uplifting bringing energy and joy. The colours from the palette of paints which I use are bright and vibrant and for me reflect the essence of sunny summer days in North Wales when life is filled with optimism and dreams. Fine silk fabric is my canvas, the technique I have developed over more than 20 years having a simplicity of line which creates a naïve style with a contemporary twist.

For me, though, the coastal landscape offers far more than just a beautiful view. Within that landscape are many elements that give ambiance and that reflect culture and heritage in the widest sense. With every new piece of artwork I aim to capture that sense of place.

With sea cliffs, rocky inlets, panoramic beaches and shallow estuaries it is no surprise that Anglesey and North Wales is home to an enormous variety of birdlife. I am fascinated by their comings and goings, linked to the tides and seasons, and for me they are intrinsic to the character of our landscape.

With this love and passion for the North Wales landscape I am continually exploring both new vistas and the birdlife within to add to my portfolio of silk paintings and appliquéd artwork.

Jayne spent 2 years at Art College after leaving school, studying an Art Foundation and gaining a love of both graphic design and textiles, winning the textile student award. She went on to study a BA (Hons) Fashion/Textile Design at Leicester Polytechnic working through a variety of fashion and textile disciplines whilst collaborating with industrial partners. This culminated in several production design awards and a launch at The ‘Salon International de la lingerie’ International Fashion Fair Paris with publications in The Sunday Observer amongst others. After graduating Jayne went on to work as a fashion designer for M&S, BHS, KNICKERBOX, SOCK SHOP and NEXT following designs through fashion forecasting, design, pattern cutting, sampling, and production quality control through to retail.

Whilst raising two children, Jayne continued to work as a freelance fashion designer. Returning to her love of art and textiles Jayne began silk painting in 1998, gradually developing her own unique style. In 2000 she started working with adults and children within the community, sharing her passion for art and craft. She now gives presentations about her creative journey and delivers silk painting masterclasses. Jayne began exhibiting her silk paintings and appliquéd artwork in 2008 and is currently represented at galleries across North Wales; she is also a registered supplier to The National Trust. She has exhibited in Ireland and throughout Wales, has work held in public and private collections across the world and has gained numerous awards from societies and public bodies. Jayne is a member of The International Guild of Silk Painters, and The North Wales Society of Fine Art. She opens her studio annually as part of The Anglesey Arts Forum Arts Weeks. Her website, www.angleseytextileart.co.uk has been archived by the UK Web Archive on behalf of The National Library of Wales.


Exhibition collaborations include:

From 2014-2018 Jayne was project chair, curator and an exhibiting artist for the ‘Birds of Wales’ exhibition. This was a four-year project which was awarded a Heritage Lottery Fund ‘Sharing Heritage’ grant and which was staged at Oriel Môn from Sept-Nov 2017. The exhibition by 18 artists and makers selected from across Wales included multi-disciplinary art with each of the participating artists depicting the Birds of Wales in their own unique way. It also included artist-led masterclasses, demonstrations, exhibition tours, educational talks, children’s and family activity days, school visits and competitions. The RSPB, BTO and North Wales Wildlife Trust worked in collaboration with a committee chaired by Jayne who also gave a series of pre-exhibition talks and radio interviews and led a social media campaign across Facebook and Twitter both preceding and throughout the duration of the exhibition. There were over 250 at the exhibition opening, and total footfall was just over 16,000 – an average of well over 300 per day – representing an increase of some 4,000 over the same period the previous year at the gallery. In addition, Jayne was invited by Oriel Môn to select work from the Charles Tunnicliffe archive held by the gallery both to be exhibited as part of the ‘Birds of Wales’ exhibition and for a complementary ‘Feather Map of Wales’ exhibition in the Tunnicliffe Gallery at Oriel Môn from 2017 to 2018.

In 2011, approximately 50 students from 5 WEA Cymru Patchwork & Quilting groups from across Anglesey who were inspired by Jayne’s artwork produced their own textile artwork based on Jayne’s designs, culminating in a joint 2-gallery exhibition curated by Jayne at Ucheldre Centre, Holyhead.

In 2008, as part of the WIND (Wales Ireland Network of Craft and Design) Wales Craft Forum project, a number of Jayne’s original silk paintings were exhibited at The Waterfront Gallery, Milford Haven, The Court Cupboard Craft Gallery, Abergavenny, in Carlow, Ireland, the National Eisteddfod in Cardiff and Fforwm Crefft Cymru, Machynlleth.


Commissions include:

2018-19 Portfolio work of local views selected for permanent exhibition within the new A&E Department at Ysbyty Gwynedd Hospital to help signpost patients and visitors, particularly those living with dementia. Seven works, digitally reproduced at up to 4m wide.

2014-15 A collaboration with fashion designer Sarah Hellen to design and paint a collection of silk scarves as part of a range of menswear launched at London Fashion Week at Covent Garden in 2015. 2006-7 A lottery grant funded collaboration linking the twinned communities of Maesgeirchen, Bangor and Lango, Uganda through art workshops.


Professional achievements include:

2012-2016 Exhibition Secretary with The North Wales Society of Fine Art, organising six Society exhibitions.

2013-2014 Arts Director of the Anglesey Tourism Association: organised a touring exhibition of Anglesey artists’ work at Portcullis House, Palace of Westminster, London as part of ‘Anglesey Day’ hosted by Albert Owen MP; in partnership with Waitrose Menai Bridge, Anglesey set up a permanent gallery space to promote the work of local artists.

2012-2014 Arts & Crafts Board Member of the Destination Anglesey Partnership Board, Anglesey County Council, working with businesses to promote tourism and campaigned successfully for funding to support the Anglesey Arts Forum Open Studios event in 2014.

2010-2014 Committee member and cluster co-ordinator with the Anglesey Arts Forum working in partnership with Helfa Gelf.