Born and brought up on a farm in Northern Ireland, painter Janet Bird is inspired by the beauty of the British countryside and the animals that inhabit it.

Now based in Deddington, Oxfordshire, Janet works in oils, acrylics, watercolour and soft pastel.

“I do love to capture a beautiful landscape, but my favourite subjects are animals, particularly the wildlife of the British Isles,” she says. “They may not be as celebrated as some of nature’s giants - the big cats, elephants and rhinos, for example - but the creatures that inhabit our shores are every bit as beautiful. The challenge for an animal artist is to capture not only the form, but the character of your subject and that is what I strive to do.”

As well as her landscape and wildlife pieces, Janet also undertakes pet portrait commissions and cites seeing people’s faces light up as they unwrap an original painting of their much loved animal as one of the most rewarding elements of her work.