This summer, Cheltenham artist Jane Ware commemorates an extraordinary personal milestone—her 50th consecutive year exhibiting at the town’s cherished Art in the Park. As she approaches her 69th birthday on June 15, Jane prepares to showcase her latest collection during the event’s first week at Imperial Gardens.
Since first stepping into the spotlight in June 1975 at just 19 years old, Jane has remained a vibrant part of the festival. Her debut sale, a poppy painting, fetched £6, and a cherished photograph from that time shows her proudly holding a portrait of actor Telly Savalas, famed for his role as Kojak.
“I’m incredibly excited to mark this golden anniversary,” Jane shares ahead of her presentation on Screen 7 during Week 1. The 2025 exhibition runs daily from 10am to 7.30pm over four weeks, beginning June 14.
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Jane has been a cornerstone of Art in the Park’s growth, serving on its committee for two decades, including four years as chair, playing a key role in expanding the event from two to four weeks. Her artistic journey has seen ups and downs—from a challenging year without sales until the final afternoon, to the thrill of selling 11 paintings in the first hour of an opening day. Yet, her dedication never wavered, maintaining annual sales even through the pandemic when the show moved online.
Among her notable contributions is the popular card ‘The Hare and the Minotaur,’ highlighted in a 2009 Gloucestershire Echo feature. More recently, her work draws inspiration from travel and family ties. A 2021 New York cityscape reflects a visit to her daughter Jen in Manhattan, while her latest piece, ‘Kilimanjaro Sunrise,’ painted just before her birthday, supports a fundraising challenge for twin sisters Connie and Evie climbing Africa’s famous peak.
Beyond painting, Jane’s life is rich with diverse experiences: a 40-year finance career, raising two children, managing costume hire at the Everyman Theatre, and renovating a Victorian cottage. Since 2019, she has fully embraced her dream of being a professional artist.
Her philosophy is simple but powerful: “Make it happen. Think of an idea, make it happen, create a memory. Life is too short to sit and dwell.” Jane’s generosity shines through her frequent donations of artwork to charity fundraisers, supporting causes like Save Our Spaniels (SOS) and English Springer Spaniel Welfare (ESSW)—the latter rescued her beloved dog, Cassie.
To celebrate her milestone birthday, Jane plans a family dinner with her son Barney, a geography teacher in Southampton, and will share treats with fellow artists at the gardens—a fitting tribute to a lifetime dedicated to art, community, and kindness.