Artist Bio
I am a contemporary abstract painter working mainly in acrylic and ink.
My paintings can range from tiny thumbnails to as large as possible – I love working at scale.
My main focus is on content and storytelling and my work is intention led, which means that it usually begins as a noise in my head - to a plan in my journal but it really evolves in the studio when the paint hits the canvas.
My work investigates materiality and I share the outcomes with my tools and materials. The focus mainly relates to ‘place or house/home' and direct and indirect memories of repeated activities, actions and movements by those who have inhabited the space.
The layering up and underpainting elements, are as important to me as the final finished work. The physical way each mark or layer is laid down and adjoins or overlays the boundaries of existing opaque or transparent paint is part of the story and I use a range of more unconventional tools such as rollers, cardboard and scrapers in the process.
I have an MA in Fine Art (Dist.) from the University for the Creative Arts (UCA) 2021, in Farnham.
Email: janetmcwilliamart@gmail.com
Instagram: @mcwilliam.janet
![]()
I am a contemporary abstract painter working mainly in acrylic and ink.
My paintings can range from tiny thumbnails to as large as possible – I love working at scale.
My main focus is on content and storytelling and my work is intention led, which means that it usually begins as a noise in my head - to a plan in my journal but it really evolves in the studio when the paint hits the canvas.
My work investigates materiality and I share the outcomes with my tools and materials. The focus mainly relates to ‘place or house/home' and direct and indirect memories of repeated activities, actions and movements by those who have inhabited the space.
The layering up and underpainting elements, are as important to me as the final finished work. The physical way each mark or layer is laid down and adjoins or overlays the boundaries of existing opaque or transparent paint is part of the story and I use a range of more unconventional tools such as rollers, cardboard and scrapers in the process.
I have an MA in Fine Art (Dist.) from the University for the Creative Arts (UCA) 2021, in Farnham.
Email: janetmcwilliamart@gmail.com
Instagram: @mcwilliam.janet
Education / CV
2021, MA Fine Art (Distinction), University for the Creative Arts (UCA), Farnham, Surrey
2017, Diploma, Art & Design (Distinction) – Foundation Studies, UCA Farnham
1979, Bachelor of Education, Portsmouth Polytechnic, Portsmouth, Hampshire
Group Shows
2026
Vogued II, Boomer Gallery, Tooley St, London Bridge, Central London
Resident Artists’ Show, Lockwood Studios, Westfield Ave, Guildford
2025
Deep Looking, Oxmarket Contemporary, Chichester, W. Sussex
Resident Artists’ Show, Lockwood Studios, Westfield Ave, Guildford
Lockwood Artists’ Show, The Mill, Guildford
2024
Deep Looking, Lightbox, Woking, Surrey
Open Call, Mill Gallery, Elstead
2023
Splynta/Spinter, Black Box, UCA Farnham
2022
Fronteer Open 2022, Fronteer Gallery, Sheffield
2021
Alt-Terior - Hockey Gallery, UCA, Farnham
Forgotten Thought’ Safehouse, Peckham, SE London,
Beyond the Boundaries, Foyer Gallery, UCA, Farnham
2020
Undertow Projects – Week of online artist’s ‘takeover’ of Instagram (@undertowprojects)
In Place of Speaking (Free Spirit), UCA, Farnham
Extraordinary Postcards for Extraordinary Times - Newlyn Art Gallery, Cornwall
Not Us, UCA, Farnham
Untitled, UCA, Farnham
Farther Apart, UCA, Farnham
2019
Generations & Nations, UCA, Farnham Art in Clay, Hatfield ('Re-birth', collaboration with Helen Long, ceramicist)
2017
Foundation Student Show, UCA, Farnham
2021, MA Fine Art (Distinction), University for the Creative Arts (UCA), Farnham, Surrey
2017, Diploma, Art & Design (Distinction) – Foundation Studies, UCA Farnham
1979, Bachelor of Education, Portsmouth Polytechnic, Portsmouth, Hampshire
Group Shows
2026
Vogued II, Boomer Gallery, Tooley St, London Bridge, Central London
Resident Artists’ Show, Lockwood Studios, Westfield Ave, Guildford
2025
Deep Looking, Oxmarket Contemporary, Chichester, W. Sussex
Resident Artists’ Show, Lockwood Studios, Westfield Ave, Guildford
Lockwood Artists’ Show, The Mill, Guildford
2024
Deep Looking, Lightbox, Woking, Surrey
Open Call, Mill Gallery, Elstead
2023
Splynta/Spinter, Black Box, UCA Farnham
2022
Fronteer Open 2022, Fronteer Gallery, Sheffield
2021
Alt-Terior - Hockey Gallery, UCA, Farnham
Forgotten Thought’ Safehouse, Peckham, SE London,
Beyond the Boundaries, Foyer Gallery, UCA, Farnham
2020
Undertow Projects – Week of online artist’s ‘takeover’ of Instagram (@undertowprojects)
In Place of Speaking (Free Spirit), UCA, Farnham
Extraordinary Postcards for Extraordinary Times - Newlyn Art Gallery, Cornwall
Not Us, UCA, Farnham
Untitled, UCA, Farnham
Farther Apart, UCA, Farnham
2019
Generations & Nations, UCA, Farnham Art in Clay, Hatfield ('Re-birth', collaboration with Helen Long, ceramicist)
2017
Foundation Student Show, UCA, Farnham