“ In Arcadia Ego “ - “In Arcadia/Paradise, I am.”
This evocative classical phrase suggests the presence of mortality even in paradise, here it is reimagined!

As Life itself, a garden moves through cycles of bloom and decay, light and shadow, presence and absence; and yet, through every transformation, it is an paradise within reach!

This exhibition invites you to experience the garden or natural environment not just as a place, but as a metaphor: for memory, renewal, development and change.

Over the past two years I’ve been making regular visits to Arcadia Garden in Sheffield, a unique naturalistic, perennial garden which is full of different habitats including woodland, meadows tall herbaceous planting, and is constantly changing with the seasons. I’ve spent hours drawing directly from life, striving to capture those shifting moments as the garden moves through its cycle.

Arcadia itself is a unique experimental garden, created by landscape architects Doug Baker and Charlotte Liu, both Landscape Architects from the department of Landscape Design at Sheffield University. They are exploring how plant communities can thrive together over time, testing the balance of nature in a living, evolving environment.

The piece to the right “Emerald Woodland Edge June 1st “ represents the early spring growth at the edge of the sheltered woodland. There are contrasting shadows but the painting is full of verdant, dynamic growth, optimism and hope.

The painting processes explore these ideas further. My painting methods include the layering of various media; pooling liquid paint at an early stage to create atmosphere and depth and then building more tangible elements of plants and foliage which “grow” out of the earthy background. I try to imagine the painting “growing “ in the same way as nature!

In the painting to the left “Golden Days, October, Arcadia Garden” I used warm coloured glazes to bathe the painting in a golden light as summer fades. Click on the title to read more!

In Arcadia Ego, brings together the artworks that grew out of my visits to Arcadia Garden, but they are not just about the appearance of the plants and trees. They are really about how it feels to be there; the sense of stillness, reflection, and connection to nature.

My hope is that as you look at the work, you’ll find some of that same calm and curiosity, and maybe be reminded of the ways gardens and the natural world nurtures us.

I’m so excited to finally share my last few years’ work with you!

Hope you enjoy!

Jane