New chapter for artist Jane as she finds herself on the menu
Artist Jane Rainey was delighted to be chosen as part of chef Ross Lewis’s Project Art, writes Andrea Smith
THE biggest challenge for an artist is to not get discouraged during quiet periods, especially starting out,” says Jane Rainey. “It’s easy to get disheartened if you aren’t getting the opportunities you hope for or people aren’t responding the way you would like. My advice is to work tirelessly to develop and don’t put your energy into other people’s reactions. Just worry about making good art and never settle, because even when you think you have nailed something, it can always be improved and developed.”
The ambitious and driven Jane (25) is beginning to make a name for herself. She grew up in the coastal village of Ballygally, Antrim, with panoramic views of the sea. She had many creative influences. Her mum, Janine, has a keen eye for photography and her dad, Stewart, is a is a talented woodworker, who salvaged a boat and rebuilt it with amazing attention to detail.
“I grew up with a family who understood and encouraged my creative ability,” she says. “I have one brother, William, and our family holidays were a real highlight, sailing around the coast of Scotland on our dad’s boat and exploring all the beautiful coastal villages. Holidaying like this as a child really let my imagination roam free.”
Jane never saw herself doing anything else apart from art, although she was aware it wouldn’t be the easiest career choice. “I have had my fair share of warnings that a career in art was going to be hard,” she says. “I looked up to other artists while at college and was able to see many people locally who were making it happen for themselves, so I always had a positive attitude.”
Jane did her foundation year at Ulster University, and was torn between textile art and painting for her degree. She chose painting and has never looked back.
“I love that painting is instantaneous,” she says. “It’s a very primitive, natural act that doesn’t rely on technology, and that appeals to me.”
In 2014, Jane was awarded a scholarship from the National College of Art and Design in Dublin for her Master in Fine Arts degree. She developed her artistic skills and has been part of various exhibitions, including The Headless City at the TULCA Festival of Visual Arts in Galway in 2016, A Bounce Borrowed at The Dock in Carrick-on-Shannon in February of this year, and Futures, Series 3, Episode 1 at the RHA in March. She has paintings on show at Cross Gallery in Dublin and will hold a solo exhibition there in March 2018.
Jane was commissioned by Michelin-starred chef Ross Lewis to provide a painting for his restaurant, Chapter One. The restaurateur’s Project Art programme was launched in 2011 to promote young and emerging Irish artists across a range of media interpreting the connection between art and food. Chapter One has built an impressive collection of artworks. The selection is led by Ross, initially with the guidance of artist Fergus Martin of Aosdana, and more recently with Patrick T Murphy from the RHA.
As well as hanging in the Dublin restaurant, Jane’s painting, Scattering Light, will grace the hardback covers
‘I love trying to see how far I can take things’
of Chapter One’s menus, which are available for purchase in addition to limited-edition prints. An oil painting on canvas, she describes it as a response to the natural phenomenon of an orange sky, a subject that has interested artists ranging from Norwegian Expressionist artist Edvard Munch’s The Scream, to English Romanticist William Turner’s turbulent sunsets.
“An orange sky occurs when light doesn’t scatter as much and the sky becomes filled with vibrant yellows, oranges and reds,” Jane says. “It’s most vibrant when the sun lies on the horizon. In my painting, the horizon line is low and the sky occupies the majority of the surface. Abstract marks encroach on the horizon and can be read as land formations, trees or natural glitches in vision. Specks of blue fly through the sky giving a sense of movement, even though the landscape is desolate.”
Jane feels proud and privileged to be included in Project Art, and after months of toil, she was excited to see the painting hanging in the restaurant. “It felt amazing getting to see the finished piece on the wall, especially since the restaurant’s interiors complement it beautifully.”
On the personal front, Jane is engaged to brand consultant, David Lewis, whom she started dating nine years ago, when she was 16 and he was 17. David proposed to her at Castle Leslie in Monaghan on the pier of the lake beside the castle. They are getting married in 2018 and will hold their reception at Ballygally Castle.
“It’s a pretty exciting time for me,” she says.
“David and I have a very creative relationship, and we recently bought a beautiful red brick house that needs to be completely refurbished. We have been working hard on restoring the property and putting our creative touch on it.”
Away from the studio, Jane enjoys being outdoors, so camping and hiking are some of her favourite things to do. It’s a good counter-balance to the early mornings and late nights spent working in the studio.
“I’m not afraid of a challenge and love trying to push my abilities and see how far I can take things,” she says. “I try not to settle for ‘easy.’”