Although Janet Shearer studied fine art, she was naturally influenced by her family's architectural background. After some years working as a photographic model in the advertising world, she was attracted to set design in the film business. Working on the other side of the camera, she first became a set dresser, then an art director and finally a scenic artist, discovering at last an outlet for her large-scale landscape painting talent.
She learnt how to paint huge backcloths quickly and efficiently for dozens of advertising commercials and films such as as ‘The Wall’ - Pink Floyd and ‘The Hunger’ with Catherine Deneuve .

She used well-observed colour to make essential statements with paint which conveyed an impression of realism without fussy detail. Helped and guided by Ken Hill, a master of the art of scenery painting retired from the BBC and working on films such as Alien she was soon working in all the major film and television studios in the UK. He taught her how to understand eye-levels in relation to the camera and to use perspective to paint buildings, sky, grass, mountains and how to create amazing illusions of space in the minimum possible time.
After several years of painting scenery, she painted her first large scale Trompe l’oeil mural round an indoor swimming pool in London (see gallery – Hyde Park square mural). Janet used all her film scenic art skills and tackled the project with complete confidence. The painting was photographed for several interior design publications and within a short space of time she was in demand all over the world for her trompe l'oeil work. During the last twenty years Janet has painted walls and ceilings for Heathrow Airport, several restaurants, swimming pools, pubs, hotels, private houses, temples and cruise liners. (See gallery)
Her first practical book, ‘The Art of Illusion’ - ISBN 1-85974-278-5 (now in paperback with a new title, 'Janet Shearer’s Trompe L’Oeil Painting Course' - ISBN 1-84330-308-6) published by New Holland UK, North Light in US, IdeaLibri Italy, Weltbild Germany - based on her five-day painting course in Cornwall, has sold many thousands of copies all over the world. It outlines all her techniques for mural painting in an imaginative and colourful way. Her second book 'The Artist's Guide To Perspective' (also New Holland UK) is now also available in paperback and sets out basic perspective for artists in an artist-friendly way. Both books are available from Amazon. She also writes occasional practical articles for magazines such as 'Art of England' (see January/February 2006) and 'Artists and Illustrators' in the UK (see June 2006/Feb 2009 )

Wherwell priory.
Acrylic

Janet is available for mural commissions internationally (see commissioning a mural) and also invites guests to visit her studio in Cornwall for trompe l'oeil and figurative painting workshops in her studio in Cornwall in the South West UK. Luxury accommodation for seven people is available for the whole family in her farmhouse and tuition can be arranged for those wanting to spend a creative few days learning some of Janet’s trompe l’oeil tricks!
Horses have always been part of Janet’s life and she has ridden, competed and painted them since early childhood. She keeps several on her farm in Cornwall where her studio is. Horses and other animals feature in her murals and she has frequently painted them life-size for commissions both in the UK and abroad (see gallery). Janet has painted Pegasus twice – one of the paintings being over 4 metres high. She has also tackled St George and the Dragon life-size, and more recently the Legend of Tir na Nog. She is now in demand not just for her mural painting but also for her animal portraits and her racing and point to point paintings. You can also see her equestrian work at 'www.equestrianartists.co.uk'
Many of Janet’s murals have been enhanced by her portrait painting expertise and  they feature members of her clients families in the tradition of some of the historic murals in stately homes houses all over the world.
Janet writes a regular newsletter about current and forthcoming projects which she is happy to forward to anyone who wants to receive it. Please email her at janet.shearer@virgin.net