Jenny Brooks

Jenny Brooks is a professional fine artist specialising in the traditional form of miniature portrait painting. Her miniature portraits in pencil and watercolour have won prestigious exhibition awards in England, Canada and Florida, USA.

Jenny studied Fine Art at Bath Academy of Art, Corsham, Wiltshire and at Goldsmiths' College London. After an extensive teaching career as Head of Art in a south-east London Comprehensive school and later at Riddlesworth Hall, an Independent school in Norfolk, Jenny now combines her commissioned studio work with teaching Fine Art, Miniature and Botanical painting and drawing in Adult Education in the Southwest, both privately and at the University of Bristol Botanic Garden.

A perfectionist, obsessed with detail, Jenny requires a quiet creative atmosphere to work in to produce portrait miniatures in watercolour and pencil, on paper, ivorine and vellum. Jenny's work is renowned for careful execution and beautiful quality of detail and she is pleased to be continuing in the 18th Century English tradition of working in "plumbago" for her graphite drawings.

(Self Portrait 3" x 2.5")

Jenny is a member of The Royal Society of Miniature Painters, Sculptors and Gravers (RMS) and has exhibited annually with them since 1989. She became a Council Member for the Hilliard Society of Miniaturists in 1991, exhibiting annually since 1990. Jenny also held membership with the Miniature Art Society of Florida USA; The Canadian Society of Miniature Painters, Sculptors and Gravers and The Society of Woman Artists, 2002 to 2013.

Other exhibitions include Montelimar France, the Barbican London, Art Expo New York City USA, the Llewellyn Alexander Gallery London, the Michael Stuart Gallery Bristol and the Jersey Art Centre, Channel Isles. In January 1997 she held her first solo exhibition in Bath, Somerset. Her work has been purchased by the Llewellyn Alexander Gallery for their permanent collection.

In March 2003 she gained Associate Membership of The Society of Women Artists and in April 2006 full membership. Having completed the two year Society of Botanical Artists Distant Learning Diploma Course in 2013, Jenny graduated in London with a diploma of Distinction. This followed with an award for Associate membership with the SBA, and then full membership, having had her work accepted for the annual exhibitions in 2014 and 2015.

Jenny’s biography is included in the 37th Edition of Who’s Who in Art.

An informative interview with Jenny by Katherine Tyrrell about her miniature painting techniques can be found here (please note that Jenny's website mentioned in the article is no longer active but she can be contacted below).

Emily Baker, 2½" X 3½"
plumbago (graphite)

Ruth Greenwood, 3"X 4¼"
plumbago (graphite)

Tara, 2½" X 3¼"
watercolour on vellum

Ruby, 2½" X 3¼"
watercolour on polymin

Claire with Whisky Mac, 2½" X 3¼"
watercolour

Tamara, 2½" X 3¼"
watercolour on vellum

Frances Bailey,2¾" X 3½"
watercolour on vellum

Russell Labbey, 2½" X 3¼"
watercolour on vellum

Elizabeth Ann Scott Hart
watercolour on vellum

Clare Nancy Scott Milne née Hart
watercolour on vellum

Tatiana Kuzmenko
watercolour on vellum

The Heritage Collection

Frederick Warne & Co. granted Jenny an exclusive Craft Licence to paint in watercolour, characters from the Original Peter Rabbit (TM) Books illustrated by Beatrix Potter (TM).  These are produced to order as framed 4" x 4" Gallery Miniatures.

Ten beautifully detailed miniature watercolour paintings individually signed with the artist's monogram, JB, dated and given an Edition Number, have been created for the collector.

Each framed and glazed painting is approx 4" x 4". For more information or to order, please get in touch with Jenny as some stock is still available.

The Heritage Collection

Under exclusive licence from Frederick Warne & Co. 

For the puzzles Jenny's paintings have been faithfully reproduced into porcelain mosaics as collectors items or as exquisite gifts for christenings, anniversaries, birthdays or for someone special in your life.

All ten puzzles are beautifully presented in cases with a Certificate of Authenticity and numbered from the annually limited edition.
Hardwood cased puzzle size 15cm x 17cm approx. Price £64.95.
Suede cased puzzle size 13.5cm x 15.5cm approx. Price £47.95.

Please click on the picture for a larger view. For more information or to order, please get in touch with Jenny as some stock is still available.

• June 1990 The Suzanne Lucas Best Novice Award The Hilliard Society
• November 1993 Gold Bowl Honourable Mention The Royal Miniature Society
• January 1994 First in Portrait Miniature Art Society of Florida
• June 1994 The Bell Cup for the Best Portrait The Hilliard Society
• January 1995 Second in Pencil, Pastel, Scrimshaw Miniature Art Society of Florida
• November 1996 The Mundy Sovereign Portrait Award The Royal Miniature Society
• January 1998 Second in Drawing & Pastel Miniature Art Society of Florida
• June 1998 The Llewellyn Alexander Portrait Award The Hilliard Society
• November 1998 Gold Bowl Honourable Mention The Royal Miniature Society
• January 1999 First in Pencil, Pastel, Scrimshaw Miniature Art Society of Florida
• November 1999 Gold Bowl Honourable Mention The Royal Miniature Society
• June 2000 Suzanne Lucas Highly Commended The Hilliard Society
• November 2000 The Mundy Soverieign Portrait Award The Royal Miniature Society
• June 2001 Suzanne Lucas Commendation The Hilliard Society
• November 2001 The Best Group Award The Royal Miniature Society
• May 2002 Gold, Bronze and Silver - Best Portrait The Canadian Miniature Society
• May 2003 The Best of Show - Graphite The Canadian Miniature Society
• June 2003 Suzanne Lucas Honourable Mention The Hillard Society
• June 2006 Gold Bowl Honourable Mention The Royal Miniature Society
• June 2007 Suzanne Lucas Best in Exhibition The Hillard Society
• June 2007 The Bell Cup for the Best Portrait The Hillard Society
• October 2007 Peter Charles Booth Memorial Award The Royal Miniature Society
• October 2008 Bonhams Portrait Award The Royal Miniature Society
• October 2008 Gold Bowl Honourable Mention The Royal Miniature Society
• October 2009 Gold Bowl Honourable Mention The Royal Miniature Society
• October 2012 Gold Bowl Honourable Mention The Royal Miniature Society
• October 2013 Gold Bowl Honourable Mention The Royal Miniature Society
• June 2018 The Bell Cup for the Best Portrait. The Hilliard Society
  

Jenny also specialises in the minor restoration of miniature paintings, and will be pleased to advise upon individual projects.

Enquiries for commissions are welcome. Charges for both graphite (plumbago) and watercolour portrait miniatures vary from £850 to £950 per subject according to complexity and time involved either working from life, photographs or both. Jenny will be pleased to quote you for your individual miniature portrait requirements. Miniatures can take between 4 to 8 months to complete.