The daughter of an Irish vet, Jan Sweeney grew up in the open countryside of East Anglia, on the east coast of England.  Her early training was at Colchester Art School and she followed this with three years working in Verona, Italy, under sculptor Mike Noble. She first visited Africa in 1985 and the African scene and wildlife had a powerful influence on her work.

She now has her own workshop and foundry in Zimbabwe where she does her own casting. Jan divides her time between her lakeside cottage at Lake Chivero, Zimbabwe and her house in Somerset, England.  Her work, therefore, portrays the animals of the English countryside and the game of the African bush.  Horses are a particular love of this accomplished horsewoman who has competed successfully in both eventing and dressage.

• The Animal Artist Association (USA)
• The South West Arts Group (UK)
• The Royal British Sculptors (Associate Member)
• The Wildlife Arts Society (A Fellow of)

Public Collections

• Art in Wildlife, Cirencester, UK
• BP Collection, Harare, Zimbabwe
• First National Bank Art Collection, Johannesburg, South Africa

Awards

• 1993 – Wild Arts Society – Best Sculpture – Best Overall
• 1996/97/98 – Wild Arts Society – Best Sculpture
• 1999 Prix du Meaudre – CDAA Sculpture

Exhibitions

• The Royal Academy – 1994/95
• Sun City Palace Hotel, South Africa - 1998 to 2002
• Centre de Documentation Sur l’art Animalier, Belgium – 1998 to 2002
• Nature in Art, Gloucester, UK – 2001
• Chelsea Flower Show, UK – 2001/2/3
• Sculpture in the Park, Loveland, Colorado, USA – 1996