A Blossoming Career as an Artist

Janice, who worked at the Junior School for 14 years, is now a Fellow of the Society of Botanical Artists and sells originals, signed prints and cards of her colourful and stunning designs through her website.

While working at the Junior School she established a wildflower garden next to the stream that runs through the grounds.  Janice says: “I wonder if any my former pupils remember the lovely days at the end of exams when we used to go out to collect some of the flowers, bring back a selection to the class room, and using a digital microscope and wild flower guides, identify the plants and then make detailed drawings in pencil and crayons of them.

"Many of the wild flowers were used as remedies in the past and quite a few still remain from the old garden of Burlington House.  The acivity encouraged observation and appreciation of the local environment as well as refreshing the pupils' knowledge of botany. It also brought a sense of stillness and calm in an otherwise hectic school day.  I wander if any pupils from that time remember the activity, and if it encouraged them in any direction. I hope the experience led to an appreciation of the beauty of flowers.”

That desire to encourage others to share her love of nature continues to inform and inspire her work: "I want to try and share, to the best of my ability, those fleeting moments of great beauty that are all around us and to do the subject matter justice. I enjoy a challenge.”

Janice developed a love of nature as a child as well as a passion for art.  She combined the two after studying Zoology and Botany at university.  “There I witnessed the exquisiteness of microscopic animals and plants. Nature is the greatest designer and through intense observation the structures and colours can be appreciated.”

Janice first worked as a research scientist, but after having two children, she trained as a primary school teacher specialising in science. She retired from LEH in 2012 and returned to painting by attending Botanical art classes.

She adds: “Having the time now to develop my skills in watercolours, I attempt to capture and share the endless varieties and forms of plant life that can be found everywhere. Stopping to really look brings rich rewards, a sense of beauty and peace. I am interested in the complex and unexpected, both in structure and colour.”

If you are logged into your Holles Connect account, you will be able to see some more examples of Janice's beautiful work in the photo gallery below. To see more please visit www.janicegazetas.art.