Brighton-born Janet Mercer has always loved the coastline, the hills and nature, no doubt nurtured by her splendid childhood surroundings in East Sussex. When only nine, Janet’s prize possession was an Olympus Trip camera which she used to photograph corn fields, flowers, butterflies, sunsets and skies (rarely people!) A life-long passion for colour, pattern and design led Janet to Art College at Loughborough, where she studied for a degree in textiles.Janet planned a career as an artist and art teacher, but this all changed when she was awarded a Royal Society of Arts Bursary in 1986. This resulted in an invitation to attend the prestigious Royal College of Art (RCA), London, where she gained a Masters in advanced colour, material and design concepts for vehicles. A happy and fulfilling 20 years ensued, with Janet choosing to settle in the heart of the automotive industry in the West Midlands until its ultimate demise in 2005.
Now a fulltime artist, Janet is attracted to the patterns of nature. In the floral artworks, shapes are well considered, often dynamic, with a strong geometrical or symmetrical composition and there is a richness and vibrancy to the colour. Imagery is often larger than life; a flower detail is admired on a large scale and a fascination for close-up (macro) study is observed. Moods are generated by the use of lighting; sometimes soft and sensual, as with the delicate whites and pinks in Fantasia Blush, but at other times fiery and passionate, as with Dahlia Calypso Blaze.
