Janice daughters
Artist & Illustrator
I feel extremely lucky to have had such a varied creative life. From a very young age, I was drawing onto anything I could lay my hands on. One Christmas, I received a blackboard and easel with coloured chalks. It was many years later that I found out my dear dad had lovingly made this himself. Every year I had a box of chalks in my stocking from Father Christmas.
It was inevitable that I would go to art college and had a one year foundation course followed by two years specialising in graphic design.
I feel extremely lucky to have had such a varied creative life. From a very young age, I was drawing onto anything I could lay my hands on.
One Christmas, I received a blackboard and easel with coloured chalks. It was many years later that I found out my dear dad had lovingly made this himself. Every year I had a box of chalks in my stocking from Father Christmas.
It was inevitable that I would go to art college and had a one year foundation course followed by two years specialising in graphic design.
My career started with my first job working for Kodak in their Package Design department.
I then went to work in an advertising studio in London. My job included designing company logos, many of which were for local county council authorities in the south of the country.
The main day to day tasks involved Pen and Ink illustrations for recruitment advertisements, poster and leaflet design.
My career started with my first job working for Kodak in their Package Design department.
I then went to work in an advertising studio in London. My job included designing company logos, many of which were for local county council authorities in the south of the country.
The main day to day tasks involved Pen and Ink illustrations for recruitment advertisements, poster and leaflet design.
After several years I decided to go freelance as a graphic designer; this gave me the opportunity to devote time to my hobby as a photographer which turned into a lucrative career move. I started to photograph a friend of mine who passionately wanted to become a model, taking lots of studio photographs of her so she could build up her portfolio. She became a successful fashion model working here in Britain and abroad, especially in Paris and Milan. When showing her portfolio to various modelling agencies, they asked who took the photographs, resulting in commissions for me to take photographs of other models.
After several years I decided to go freelance as a graphic designer; this gave me the opportunity to devote time to my hobby as a photographer which turned into a lucrative career move.
I started to photograph a friend of mine who passionately wanted to become a model, taking lots of studio photographs of her so she could build up her portfolio. She became a successful fashion model working here in Britain and abroad, especially in Paris and Milan.
When showing her portfolio to various modelling agencies, they asked who took the photographs, resulting in commissions for me to take photographs of other models.
Throughout my time freelancing as a graphic designer and photographer, I had several commissions for Pen and Ink illustrations. One I particularly enjoyed illustrating, was of a large house for the then display manager for Harrods. It was a surprise gift for him from his wife. It was a real joy to capture this beautiful house with two pictures of the front and rear perspectives.
My pen and ink style is based on pointillism, stippling many dots on the page in various densities to form light and shade. A time consuming process but very satisfying.
Throughout my time freelancing as a graphic designer and photographer, I had several commissions for Pen and Ink illustrations.
One I particularly enjoyed illustrating, was of a large house for the then display manager for Harrods. It was a surprise gift for him from his wife. It was a real joy to capture this beautiful house with two pictures of the front and rear perspectives.
My pen and ink style is based on pointillism, stippling many dots on the page in various densities to form light and shade. A time consuming process but very satisfying.
On moving to Wensleydale in the Yorkshire Dales, I attended an evening class in China Painting, something I had always wanted to do ever since going to The Delft Potteries, in the Netherlands, on a school trip. I was mesmerised watching the skilled artists hand paint each ceramic piece. And so, my next adventure started selling lots of my hand painted china and porcelain at prestigious craft fairs throughout the country.
I am so proud to say that royalty and some famous actors purchased some of my work. I even had the privilege to meet and talk with the late Queen, who showed interest in the process of painting and then firing the ceramics in a kiln. On another occasion, a prominent artist from Spode potteries saw my work and was very complimentary.
On moving to Wensleydale in the Yorkshire Dales, I attended an evening class in China Painting, something I had always wanted to do ever since going to The Delft Potteries, in the Netherlands, on a school trip.
I was mesmerised watching the skilled artists hand paint each ceramic piece. And so, my next adventure started selling lots of my hand painted china and porcelain at prestigious craft fairs throughout the country.
I am so proud to say that royalty and some famous actors purchased some of my work. I even had the privilege to meet and talk with the late Queen, who showed interest in the process of painting and then firing the ceramics in a kiln. On another occasion, a prominent artist from Spode potteries saw my work and was very complimentary.
I embarked on greetings card design and publishing only a few years ago. Wanting a less hectic lifestyle, this seemed the way forward. I developed a painterly style using a graphics pad and computer. Living in the countryside surrounded by nature, I have lots of inspiration for my designs. My garden is also a go to place for subject matter, with flora and bird life in abundance.
While exhibiting the range of greetings cards at the Spring Trade Fair, NEC, I met a most charming man who has led me to a challenging and rewarding stage in my creative life.
I embarked on greetings card design and publishing only a few years ago.
Wanting a less hectic lifestyle, this seemed the way forward. I developed a painterly style using a graphics pad and computer.
Living in the countryside surrounded by nature, I have lots of inspiration for my designs. My garden is also a go to place for subject matter, with flora and bird life in abundance.
While exhibiting the range of greetings cards at the Spring Trade Fair, NEC, I met a most charming man who has led me to a challenging and rewarding stage in my creative life.
My versatility as an artist has really helped in all my creative ventures. I have become fascinated with jigsaw puzzles and how to create an image that is colourful, engaging and challenging.
The Product Development Director of Gibsons Games Limited, who I met at Spring Fair, has championed me in developing a style suitable for jigsaw puzzles (you can read more here). He has since moved on and now has his own business. A sincere thank you to Geoff for seeing my potential. I hope to continue producing many more illustrations for jigsaw puzzles.
My versatility as an artist has really helped in all my creative ventures. I have become fascinated with jigsaw puzzles and how to create an image that is colourful, engaging and challenging.
The Product Development Director of Gibsons Games Limited, who I met at Spring Fair, has championed me in developing a style suitable for jigsaw puzzles (you can read more here)
He has since moved on and now has his own business. A sincere thank you to Geoff for seeing my potential. I hope to continue producing many more illustrations for jigsaw puzzles.
Janice Daughters, Artist and Illustrator, has been featured in the these magazines.
