Jane works in various media and often a combination of several as she enjoys experimenting with colour and textures. Pastel is her preferred medium as she particularly likes their immediacy and expressive quality but the versatility and vibrancy of acrylics runs a close second. It is usually the subject matter that dictates the medium that she works in. The effect of light and colour on landscape has been a recurring theme in her work but she is often lured into more ‘abstracted’ interpretations. It is rare for her to paint specific places, being more captivated by mood and atmosphere, however, she often include figures in her paintings and greatly enjoys the challenge of life studies.

Competition Successes

In January 2002 this dramatic view of sailing boats at Stewartby Lake Country Park with the Brickworks in the background, won Jane second prize in an international art contest run by Fight for Sight, the UK 's foremost charity in the battle against blindness. Jane's successful entry was not the only reason for her to celebrate. Milton Keynes Society of Artists (MKSA) - of which she is a former chairperson - won a prize for the art club that made the largest donation to the charity through fund raising efforts associated with the competition. Fight for Sight will use the money to help finance research into the prevention of blindness and treatment of eye disease.

With 120 people in the UK losing their sight every single day, the aim of the contest was to raise funds and increase awareness of Fight for Sight's work in the battle against blindness. Called Art for Sight's Sake, the competition attracts entries from art clubs throughout the UK and a few abroad. The charity's initiative is backed by the best- selling monthly magazine, Leisure Painter, which will also publish the winning works. Jane Stroud, Editor of Leisure Painter and Tom Coates, a well-known professional artist who has exhibited at many leading galleries, including the Royal Academy , judged the entries . Jane painting was forwarded to the finals in London after being nominated winner by a panel of independent judges who adjudicated all the entries from members of MKSA. An acrylic by Pam Maudsley, entitled " Milton Keynes , a summary in abstract", was voted MKSA's runner-up.