Yet the urge to paint never left me. In 2012, I returned to my first love, completing a Foundation Diploma in Art & Design with distinction, and earned a place in the Strode College Collection.

For me, painting is both solace and discovery. I spent years exploring printmaking, but by 2017 the call of plein air painting grew too strong: the shimmering, transient light of a summer’s morning, the stillness of a ceramic object catching its surroundings — these became my subjects.

I paint still life and landscapes with a quiet reverence, drawing from the traditions of the Glasgow Boys, and from the Old Masters like Velázquez and Rembrandt.

Hi, I’m Jean. Welcome to my website.

I’m a figurative oil painter rooted in a quiet passion for light, observation and the subtle poetry of everyday forms.

Originally from Scotland, I now live in the gentle rhythms of Somerset, where the soft hills and luminous skies feed my artistic imagination.

From a young age, I was surrounded by creativity - the arts was not just a pastime, it was a way of being. I trained in graphic design, but over time business management beckoned with a steady income. I spent many years building my career away from the studio.

I’m deeply inspired by the Glasgow Boys’ spirit — their empathy for rural life, their commitment to realism, and their bold, painterly touch.  Their work, grounded in naturalism yet alive with modern energy, resonates in my own practice. At the same time, I look to Velázquez and Rembrandt for their mastery of light, their profound depth of colour, and their ability to evoke emotion through stillness..

In my studio and out in the landscapes, I pay close attention to how light rests, how it dances, and how it changes. I love painting iridescent ceramics — vessels that reflect the room’s colours, the air, the quiet. There’s a delicacy in watching these reflections; in capturing them, I hope to evoke space, softness, and a sense of calm.

My work isn’t just about representation. It’s an invitation: to pause, to breathe, to feel the beauty in the ordinary. Many of the paintings you see here are available for sale, and I also welcome commissions — I find real joy in creating something personal for someone’s own space.

My paintings live in private collections across Europe and the U.S., and I’m honoured when collectors connect with this quiet world I paint into being.

Beyond my practice, I enjoy being part of artistic communities. I serve as Secretary and Committee Member for the Bruton Art Society, and, previously, I chaired Artists 303, a vibrant West Country art collective.

I’m also proud to partner with Rosemary & Co, renowned British makers of hand-crafted artist brushes — tools that help me translate my vision into paint.