Jane Le dieu
Jane le Dieu was born in Cornwall, UK, and after growing up across Canada, the UK, and California, she eventually settled in Australia, where she worked as an art teacher in Canberra before relocating to Brisbane to focus on painting and craft. Influenced by her textile design studies and artists like Matisse, Jane's recent work includes quirky still lifes of local birds, beachscapes, and historic beach shacks, reflecting the vibrant environment of the Sunshine Coast.
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My name is Jane le Dieu and I was born in Cornwall, UK. After this significant event, I spent the next 16 years growing up in Canada, the UK and finally California, my father serving in the Royal Navy, before arriving in Australia. After completing University (Charles Sturt) I moved from Nowra, NSW to Canberra where I was employed as an art teacher. After this rewarding and enjoyable period, I departed Canberra and teaching for a lifestyle move to Brisbane, working part-time in retail. "Part-time" being my choice as I dearly wished for some significant time to renew painting and craft, painting being a life-long love since being introduced to it as a small child by my paternal grandfather, a talented English pastel artist based in Bedford who always encouraged me and continued to send me his minor drawings from the other side of the world until his death.
Having completed tertiary studies in art, where my focus was textile design, which still influences my approach to painting, concentrating as it does on pattern, colour and light. Artists who have inspired me include the Fauvist painters, particularly Matisse, their loose and colourful style being ideally suited to the lush environment and relaxed lifestyle of the Sunshine Coast.
I have recently completed a series of quirky still lifes featuring local birds, character homes, beachscapes and some of the few remaining historic and characterful beach shacks.