2023 Featured artist – Jane Glue

What is your name or the name you go by for your art?

My name is Jane Glue.

Where do you live?

I live in the Orkney Isles, Scotland.

What’s your background?

I have always wanted to be an artist and attended art school at Grays School of Art, Aberdeen and Harrow College of Art in London, graduating in Illustration in 1985.

Having been born in such a beautiful place as Orkney, my aim has always been to showcase its landscape and nature. I come from a business family; my parents and now brothers and sister have their own business and my twin sister is also an artist and knitwear designer. I started quite early in my teens painting and selling work and after returning home from art school in 1985, I opened my own gallery selling original work, prints and other products produced from my paintings. At that time, Orkney was just developing as a tourist destination and my business grew along with the visitor numbers but, more importantly, with the support of the locals who also bought my work for themselves and their family and friends.

Which media do you prefer to work with?

For many years I only painted with watercolours but lately I have been using a variety of mixed media including acrylics, collage, oil crayons and gold and silver leaf.

How did you learn your craft i.e. college, self-taught and what did that entail?

I attended art school at Grays School of Art, Aberdeen and Harrow College of Art in London, graduating in Illustration in 1985. Since then I have done many small art courses with various artists as I like to continue to expand my knowledge.

What does your work aim to say?

I want to say how beautiful my home is.

Does your work comment on current social or political issues?

No.

Who are your biggest influences?

My biggest influences were local artist and photographer Sylvia Wishart and Gunnie Moberg who both explored the Orkney landscape in many different ways. I also like in particular Monet but so many more artists, too!

How have you developed your career?

Although I had a gallery and website for many years, I sold my gallery in 2015 and moved into a studio space as I wanted to have more time to paint rather than be tied to a gallery/shop. In 2020, I launched a new website celebrating and selling work from a 35 plus year career. I have a large collection of images on my computer that I can print from or make other products. My website has over 400 different prints in various sizes, along with around 40 originals and many other products such as mugs, cards, serving platters, etc. All that wouldn’t have been possible without a substantial library of images. Since launching the site I have spent a lot of time developing the website shop through Shopify and learning at the same time about how to gain access to customers, mainly in the UK but worldwide, too.

How do you seek out opportunities?

I regularly submit original work to various art galleries, mainly in Scotland. Here in Orkney I have one main physical outlet for my work aside from my website and I sell my cards trade to other shops, mainly in Orkney as my work tends to be of local scenes.

How do you cultivate a collector base?

About 80% of my customers come from my Facebook page and I also send out monthly newsletters to website subscribers. Many customers collect my work and return to the website to purchase regularly so I strive to give as good a service as I possibly can by making it personal with emails from myself and extra touches such as a “thank you” card and my own silk ribbon on gifts.

How do you price your work?

I keep my print prices reasonable so that anyone can afford them. In the past I printed work myself but now I use a print on demand company called The Print Space in London. This means all I have to do is load up my images  onto my website. They then print any order that is placed and deliver direct to the customer from their premises. This means I don’t have to hold a stock of prints but that I can also offer a wide range of images and different sizes of prints. Other gift products are sent out direct from my studio, including my original work.

Limited edition print prices vary from £40 to £150 for bigger sizes but I would say that the £60 size is the most popular. Original work again usually depends on size. Smaller paintings start at £30 with larger framed works selling at £200-£600. As I mainly sell work myself through my website I do not need to worry about commission.

Which current art world trends are you following?

I don’t think I follow a trend. I like to have my own style and although I like to look at other artists’ work through social media and galleries, I like to try out new techniques and follow my own instincts and individuality.

Do you know where you are heading career wise? What are your hopes for your future?

I hope I can keep selling and working until I die! It would be lovely to exhibit more but I also want to increase my website sales and presence. I have a 30 yr-old daughter who also went to art school. Just now she works only part time doing her own art, but as my website grows I hope that we can collaborate together and that she will have a future working full time in my business.

Do you have any tips for young artists just starting out?

My main tip for any artist starting out is to copy any work you do. A good smartphone will give you at least a 4MB JPEG file on the right setting and the best light for photographing is outdoors. When starting out, your best customers are your family and friends! And they will help spread the word. Always try and be true to yourself and make your own mark by developing your own style. That way people will recognise your work anywhere. There is nothing wrong with starting small and keeping your ‘other’ job for a while to pay the bills. If you work hard your business will grow. Never be frightened to sell yourself; your customer wants to identify with you and your art!

Do you have any exhibitions coming up?

I don’t have any exhibitions coming up immediately but my work is accessible via my website (see link below).

I have put work forward for the RSA in Edinburgh annual exhibition but I won’t hear whether if I have been accepted until March. I also have an exhibition planned here in Kirkwall at The Highland Park Distillery shop in October 2023.

Where can you be found on social media?

Website:     https://www.janeglue.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/janegluegallery/

Facebook:   https://www.facebook.com/janeglueorkney