Jane Kelly

After moving to Oxford from London in 2010 I was able to spend much more time painting and drawing. I had exhibited in London and Liverpool with the Stuckist Painters and am currently involved in a film about them, and I’d been in the RA Summer Show twice, but I wasn’t able to devote all my time to art until I retired.  At first I was so excited to be surrounded by the beautiful Oxfordshire countryside that I focussed on the landscape, painting plein air. Since then I’ve moved to self portraits and portraits, taking commissions, including people and their dogs, always from life.

I attend the weekly life drawing group at South Oxford Community Centre and a local portrait group. I was pleased to join the OAS and enter their exhibitions, when I can get in, and also take part in the excitement of Oxford Artweeks, showing in my home in OX4.

I had some luck in June being shortlisted for the BP Portrait Award, getting into the New English Art Club show for the second time at the Mall Gallery in London, which was only a week apart from the Society of Women Artists show, also at the Mall. I sold both the paintings I am glad to say!

June 2025 New English Art Club the Mall Gallery, London.
June 2025 The Society of Women Artists. Mall Gallery, London.
January 2025 Shortlisted for the Herbert Smith Freehills Portrait Award. NPG
March 2025 Two portraits in the Oxford Art Society Members show.
June 2024 Exhibited in the Society of Women Artists Mall Gallery
March 2024 Shortlisted for the Herbert Smith Freehills Portrait Award.
Nov 2023 Painting featured in the Artist’s & Illustrator’s Magazine
June 2022 Self-portrait ‘Corners’ exhibited at the New English Art Club
April 2022 Charcoal drawing, ‘The Sleep of Reason’ short listed for the New English Art Club, the Mall Gallery, London.
April 2022 Two paintings short listed for the RA Summer Show.
May 2021 Finalist in the Ruth Borchard Self Portrait competition. Work shown in final exhibition in Coventry Cathedral as part of their year as ‘City of Culture.’