Background
Jane McCracken was born in Edinburgh in 1968. She freelanced as an illustrator for several years then moved to London in 1995 and took ten years out to develop her work. She did various jobs including Park Keeper and Guard/Tube Driver on the Northern Line whilst continuing the development of her artwork and novel writing in her spare time. In 2003 she moved to Northumberland. From 2005 she created Biro drawings having initially used Biro to produce small works of art on Post-it notes whilst working in a London office. She now lives and works as an artist in South Tyneside with her husband Rob and their wolf dog 'Lily’.
BIOGRAPHY
EDUCATION
1986-1987 Foundation Course, York College of Art and Technology
1987-1990 BA(HONS) Graphic Design, Humberside University
WORK
1990-1996 Freelance Illustrator
1996-1997 Park Ranger, Camden Council London
1997-1999 Guard/Emergency Tube Driver, Northern Line, London Underground
1999-2003 Administrator/H&S Secretary, London Underground
2003- Artist
1996-2005 Developed art work, wrote four novels and learnt to play the accordion
EXHIBITIONS AND COMMISSIONS
2010 Biro drawing donated to KartForce for charity fund-raising auction
2010 Album Cover for band Maybe Myrtle Tyrtle
2010 Feature in Royal British Legion Newsletter
2010 Various private Biro drawing commissions
2010 Biro drawings exhibited in Robinson-Gaye Hexham
2010 Feature in Berwick Advertiser
2010 Four page feature in Living North Magazine
2009 Biro drawings exhibited in Robinson-Gay Hexam
2009 Various private commissions
2009 Began series of Biro drawings, ‘Tales from the East’
2008 Exhibited Biro drawings at Robinson-Gaye Christmas Exhibition
2008 Various private commissions
2007 Joint exhibition with Nick Holmes at The Irving Gallery, Berwick-upon-Tweed
2007 Exhibited at summer exhibition at the Gymnasium Gallery, Berwick-upon-Tweed
2007 Exhibited Biro drawings at the Artworks Gallery, Newcastle
2006 Joint Exhibition with Nick Holmes ‘Moving Images’ in conjunction with the Berwick-upon-Tweed International Film Festival, The Maltings and The Print Gallery, Bridge Street Berwick-upon-Tweed
2006 Exhibited Biro drawings at the Brockdam Gallery, Northumberland
2006 Solo Exhibition of Biro drawings, Alnwick Playhouse, Alnwick
2005 Solo Exhibition of Biro drawings in private house, Seahouses
1990-1996 Illustrations published by BBC Publications, Cambridge University Press, Kingfisher Publications
1993 Solo Exhibition of paintings, University of Humberside, Hull
1992 Commission of 12 pencil drawings for Dunderave Castle, Argyllshire
1990-1993 Exhibited paintings at various exhibitions for the Association of Illustrators, London
1986-1987 Foundation Course, York College of Art and Technology
1987-1990 BA(HONS) Graphic Design, Humberside University
WORK
1990-1996 Freelance Illustrator
1996-1997 Park Ranger, Camden Council London
1997-1999 Guard/Emergency Tube Driver, Northern Line, London Underground
1999-2003 Administrator/H&S Secretary, London Underground
2003- Artist
1996-2005 Developed art work, wrote four novels and learnt to play the accordion
EXHIBITIONS AND COMMISSIONS
2010 Biro drawing donated to KartForce for charity fund-raising auction
2010 Album Cover for band Maybe Myrtle Tyrtle
2010 Feature in Royal British Legion Newsletter
2010 Various private Biro drawing commissions
2010 Biro drawings exhibited in Robinson-Gaye Hexham
2010 Feature in Berwick Advertiser
2010 Four page feature in Living North Magazine
2009 Biro drawings exhibited in Robinson-Gay Hexam
2009 Various private commissions
2009 Began series of Biro drawings, ‘Tales from the East’
2008 Exhibited Biro drawings at Robinson-Gaye Christmas Exhibition
2008 Various private commissions
2007 Joint exhibition with Nick Holmes at The Irving Gallery, Berwick-upon-Tweed
2007 Exhibited at summer exhibition at the Gymnasium Gallery, Berwick-upon-Tweed
2007 Exhibited Biro drawings at the Artworks Gallery, Newcastle
2006 Joint Exhibition with Nick Holmes ‘Moving Images’ in conjunction with the Berwick-upon-Tweed International Film Festival, The Maltings and The Print Gallery, Bridge Street Berwick-upon-Tweed
2006 Exhibited Biro drawings at the Brockdam Gallery, Northumberland
2006 Solo Exhibition of Biro drawings, Alnwick Playhouse, Alnwick
2005 Solo Exhibition of Biro drawings in private house, Seahouses
1990-1996 Illustrations published by BBC Publications, Cambridge University Press, Kingfisher Publications
1993 Solo Exhibition of paintings, University of Humberside, Hull
1992 Commission of 12 pencil drawings for Dunderave Castle, Argyllshire
1990-1993 Exhibited paintings at various exhibitions for the Association of Illustrators, London
