Jan Sweeney
MRSS · SAA
International wildlife sculptor — working in bronze between Somerset, England and Lake Chivero, Zimbabwe since 1986.
From East Anglia
to the Zambezi
The daughter of an Irish vet, Jan Sweeney grew up in the open countryside of East Anglia. Her early training was at Colchester Art School, followed by three years working in Verona, Italy under sculptor Mike Noble.
She first visited Africa in 1985, where the African scene and wildlife had a powerful influence on her work. In 1991 she returned to Zimbabwe with the intention to make wildlife sculpture — building her own foundry on a friend's farm with her African worker Killion, casting lost-wax bronzes in the bush for over a decade.
Jan divides her time between her lakeside cottage at Lake Chivero, Zimbabwe and her house in Somerset, England. Her work portrays the animals of both worlds — from Sedgemoor hares to Zambezi cheetah. Horses are a particular love: Jan has competed successfully in both eventing and dressage.
- Member, Royal British Sculptors
- Animal Artist Association (USA)
- The South West Arts Group (UK)
- The International Wildlife Arts Society (Fellow)
- Wild Arts Society — Best Sculpture & Best Overall 1993
- Wild Arts Society — Best Sculpture 1996–1998
- Prix du Meaudre — CDAA Sculpture 1999
- Chelsea Flower Show 2001–2016
- Nature in Art, Gloucester 2001–Current
- ArtParks, Guernsey 2001–Current
- The Royal Academy 1994–1995
- Sun City Palace Hotel, South Africa 1998–2002
- Centre de Documentation Sur l'art Animalier, Belgium 1998–2002
- Sculpture in the Park, Loveland, Colorado 1996
- Nature in Art Museum, Gloucester, UK
- BP Collection, Harare, Zimbabwe
- First National Bank Art Collection, Johannesburg, South Africa
- Jan accepts private commissions for original bronze sculpture
- All sculptures are cast in limited editions with a certificate of authenticity
- Bronze sculpture is suitable for garden, patio, or interior settings
- Gift vouchers available for sculpture courses via Liz Twose