Jane Crisp

Jane Crisp's art is inspired by, and imbued with, her love of the natural world. Born in Auckland, the artist moved to the more rural surrounds of the Waikato in the 1990s, and the wildlife of the region has provided the ideal subjects for her skills.

Crisp, who is largely self-taught, has been painting professionally for over a decade, and had her first solo show in 2003. Since that time, she has had numerous solo and joint exhibitions, and her work has garnered several awards, most notably the James Chapman Award at the 2004 Franklin Arts Festival. In 2008, Crisp was featured in Denis Robinson's book "New Zealand's Favourite Artists, volume 2".

Crisp has long been an admirer of the work of Raymond Harris-Ching, and it is no surprise that she, like Harris-Ching, has found wildlife an endlessly fascinating subject for study. Wild birds in particular are a major feature of her art. Living as she does within easy walking distance of native bush, birds of many varieties are frequent visitors to Crisp's garden. This idyllic retreat is a major influence on the artist, who is at her happiest working free from the interruptions of urban life, either photographing nature or working at her easel.

Every new work is an adventure for Jane, and she feels an excitement about where her art is heading.