Artist Database

Janet Ranson is inspired by nature. She examines and observes the traditional attitudes and beliefs about land, plants and animals. Her current work explores and images the cosmologies of local sheep, duck, frogs, hoopoes and the vanished wildlife of the Agulhas Plain. The painterly nature of Ranson's canvases, with pigment, mark and found elements layered to create rich texture. She experiments with mixing various mediums including acrylic, collage, ink-and-wash, pastel, plus organic and industrial junk.

Living and working in the Overberg region, South Africa, Ranson has facilitated and participated in various workshops in South Africa, Kenya, Botswana, Bulgaria, Taiwan and South Korea at the Yatoo Nature Art Residency where she developed works for her most recent solo exhibition Reality Check at AVA Gallery, Cape Town (2016). Since her move to the Overberg region in 2022, Ranson established community art classes for children and adults. Her works are in collections around the world.