Jane lives in York and is fascinated by the city's beautiful historic architecture.

She says the city provides an endless supply of subject matter, picking out the pinks, blues, purples and ochres in brickwork and stones

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Working in watercolour and pastel, Jane Duke is fascinated by the half hidden colours in everyday scenes.

Living in York she finds the city's beautiful historic architecture an endless supply of subject matter, picking out the pinks, blues, purples and ochres in brickwork and stones. When painting wildlife she will find the rainbow of hues in apparently white fur or a brown pelt.

Jane's first passion is portrait painting and she brings her love of fresh colour to this discipline too.

She prefers to meet her subjects in the flesh and make some studies from life but when commissioned to work from photographs, for whatever reason, she makes sure that she finds out all she can about the subject from those who know and love them.

In this way she can still instil some of their personality in the painting and bring out what makes them special. As she says, a person is so much more than the shape of their features.

Largely self-taught, Jane's style has developed from what brings her pleasure both to produce and to look at.

While not denying the vital role of art that challenges and disturbs, Jane hopes that her pieces will bring enjoyment, relaxation and peace to the viewer while also perhaps awakening an awareness of the beauty and colour that is to be found all around us.

Jane often takes part in exhibitions around North Yorkshire and when possible enjoys demonstrating and painting on the spot.

Her quick watercolour sketch portraits are particularly popular with onlookers. Among other venues, this year she can be seen at the Great Yorkshire Show in Harrogate where she will be exhibiting with fellow artists and craftsmen under the banner of 'Made in Yorkshire'.

Details of forthcoming events are regularly updated on her website www.janeduke.com.

Jane Duke