Jan Fitch was born in Hertfordshire, England and worked as a secretary and personnel officer until 1977 at which time she was given the opportunity of joining a 38' ketch as cook/crew.  She would sail from England to the United States.  A year later, and having visited ten countries, the voyage eneded in the Chesapeake Bay region of Maryland.  Unknowingly, her career at that point would change to that of an artist - a carver of wildfowl.

 

During her stay there, she met a local woodcarver and was fascinated how he made the wooden bird look so soft.  By saying "I wish I could do that" and with some encouragement, Jan decided to take evening classes in bird carving.  Six months later she continued to travel by boat and practiced her hobby by carving for friends and acquaintances - any corner of the boat or space on the dock was her workshop,  Two years after her initial introduction and some self teaching, Jan made woodcarving a full time professsion.

 

Her love of carved wood is expressed in her life size and miniature pieces, capturing the behaviour of ducks and birds as seen in nature.  Using basswood, she intricately shapes the wood with a knife.  The piece is then textured to simulate the soft feather look and realistically painted.  

 

A few year ago, Jan decided to carry her knowledge of wildfowl into another medium - cast paper sculpture.  The image is designed as a bas relief sculpture and in turn, created into a limited edition cast paper print of the original. Each piece is hand pulled and has it's own characteristic.  Always searching for new ways to portray the birds around us, Jan recently started to use clay to sculpt her birds, using nature as the "frame".  Weathered driftwood is created by mother nature and by sculpting a bird onto it's surace, a unique "One of a Kind" is produced.

 

 Jan has judged and competed in competitions at wood carving shows throught Canada, the United States and Great Britain where her work has received much acclaim.  Among her many wood carving awards are "Best of Shows" including those at the Canadian National Exhibition in Toronto and the Ward Foundation World Championship in Maryland.  Her art work can be found in galleries and exhibitions across Canada and the United States.  As well as holding classes in her studio for woodcarving, she conducts seminars for carving clubs and teaches at The Haliburton School of Art during the summer.  Workshops on cast paper sculpture are also held at the studio,

 

In 1983 Jan moved to Canada and now lives on Wolfe Island with her husband and two cats. During the week, she can be found working and displaying her art at her Kingston studio.  Visitors are welcome to visit and experience the process of "creating" and view the finished pieces.  An appointment is suggested to be sure the studio is open.