The Forest and Rivers Open Studios starts soon - a great opportunity to see the work of 56 fabulously diverse artists in the Forest of Dean and along the Rivers Severn and Wye. You can download a Trail Map and Brochure HERE.

As well as the individual open studios, there are also two group exhibitions taking place. I will be exhibiting some of my work at the summer exhibition in the Meeting Room (next to the cafe) at the Dean Heritage Centre which will be open 25 June to 10 July 10.30-15.30 daily (Venue 24 on the Trail Map). 

I am very pleased to announce that I am part of a joint exhibition coming soon to the lovely 7Q GALLERY in Chepstow. I am exhibiting with Jane Foot, Encaustic Artist, Eleanor Kercher, Green Woodworker and Frances Warren, Glass Artist - we all live and work at the Edge of the Forest of Dean, hence the name of our Exhibition. Our exhibition opens on April 28th 2022 and continues until May 23 2022, Thursday to Sunday 11am-4pm. I will be stewarding at the gallery from April 28th to May 1st. Please come along if you can!

Here we are again at the start of a new year, hoping it will be better than the last two! Last year was not a particularly productive year for me creatively (hoping to do better this year) but here are my most popular Instagram images for 2021. I'm very grateful for all those who have supported my artwork in 2021, including all those who liked and commented on my images on social media and those who have bought prints or cards. Thank you - it is very much appreciated.

Very pleased to find out that my image "Nothing Gold Can Stay" (see below) is a Finalist in the Intimate Landscape category of the Close Up Photographer of The Year 03. This competition attracted over 9000 entries from all over the world so making it into the Top 100 images is quite an achievement.

You can see all the winning entries on the CUPOTY website HERE

​My image also appears in Amateur Photography's feature on CUPOTY 03 HERE

If you are not too far from Ledbury in Herefordshire, why not stop by the lovely Take 4 Gallery where I and 4 other artists, including my friends, Wendy Chapman and Kate Barry, have a joint exhibition exploring "Aspects of Nature". The exhibition will run from April 13 until May 11. All artwork for sale, including cards, mounted prints and bigger framed pieces too.

​www.take4gallery.com/exhibitions-classes/2021/4/13/aspects-of-nature
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So pleased that my two images, Autumn Fantasy and Winter's Witness, were Highly Commended and Commended in the Abstract Views category of the International Garden Photographer of the Year 14 competition. This competition attracts thousands of entries from all over the world so it's a real achievement to receive any kind of recognition.

Congratulations to all the winning photographers - I particularly loved David Townsend's RPS gold medal winning images in the Portfolio section and Claire Ogden's winning image in Abstract Views. You can find all the winning images here: igpoty.com/garden-photography-winners/

My image "A Dream of Winter" was Highly Commended in the recent IGPOTY Square Crop Photo Project. You can see all the winners and placings here: ​https://igpoty.com/competitions/square-crop-14-single-results/

I now have a greetings card shop on Love From The Artist (LFTA). LFTA is based on fair trade, is non profit making, supports a wide range of artists and artistic styles and provides an open and fair opportunity for British artists, photographers and illustrators to offer their work for sale. Later in the year, I also hope to have available calendars for sale too

Here is the link to my LFTA page: ​lovefromtheartist.com/artists/drybrook/jane-simmonds

My very talented friend, Anette, has a solo exhibition of her beautiful abstract photography at Gallery 6 in Newark on Trent ​from Tuesday 3 March - Saturday 28 March 2020. If you are in the area, it would be well worth a visit! See more of her images HERE

My image "The Three Amigos" has been Highly Commended in the Abstract Views category of this year's International Garden Photography of the Year competition and is published in the competition book. This is the fourth year running that one of my images has received recognition in this prestigious competition - I am sure my luck will run out soon but it is fun while it lasts :-)

You can see all the winning images on the IGPOTY website HERE