Meet the author: Janet Whittle

Janet Whittle is a professional artist and qualified teacher who specialises in flowers and landscapes in watercolour and pastel. She exhibits regularly at the Westminster Galleries in London, and has also shown her work at the prestigious Mall Galleries and other international venues. Greeting cards bearing her work are widely available in Europe and the US and her prints are sold throughout the world. Janet Whittle has received awards from the major UK art groups, including the Society of Botanical Artists' Founder President's Honour in 1999, and the St. Cuthberts Mill Award for a picture of outstanding quality in 2001. Also in that year she won The Society of Flower Painters' Award for Excellence for their Jersey Exhibition.

An Interview with Janet

Where were you born?

Ipswich, Suffolk

What is your educational background?

GCE's, A Levels and a Teaching Certificate.

What first got you interested in art?

An acute dislike of office work! And it runs in the family, I have relatives paintings from 100 years ago.

How long have you been painting?

30 Years

Where do you get your materials?

Jackson's Art Supplies mostly.

How/Where did Search Press discover you?

I actually contacted Roz Dace (Commissioning Editor) on recommendation from John Hope-Hawkins of Teaching Art.

What were your first thoughts when asked to write a book?

That I had achieved an ambition.

Has publishing a book changed your life in any way?

It is quite humbling and surreal to think so many people are following my step-by-steps in so many countries, and enjoying them. I get a lot of pleasure from that and have been contacted by people worldwide. Brilliant!

Any tips for beginners?

Get the best materials you can afford or it never works - you wouldn't take up jogging in flip-flops!

What is your favourite art tool?

Colour!

Have you travelled for your art?

I have been to France, USA, Spain and Italy running workshops.

Where does your inspiration come from?

Having a vivid imagination most of the time, it's quite a small percentage anyway, although vital. The rest is practice and perspiration.