About Janet Howkins
Following almost 20 years on her artistic journey, Janet Howkins’ practice is rooted in close observation of plant structures and the translation of living botanical forms into sculptural works. Using traditional casting techniques with clay and plaster, she records the fine details of leaves, stems, and flowers, preserving their physical presence as sculptural herbaria reliefs. As the process voids colour it allows the viewer to read the architectural structure of the plants.
Her work is informed by research into plant history, folklore, medicinal use, and toxicology along with research of site-specific locations. Rather than treating plants purely as aesthetic subjects, she considers them as carriers of layered meaning shaped by science, culture, and human interaction. Janet's approach deconstructs the plants to construct the story.
Alongside her studio practice, Janet has developed projects and workshops within heritage and botanical contexts, including work with the Royal Horticultural Society at RHS Bridgewater, Ormesby Hall, Capesthorne Hall, Didsbury Parsonage, and the Museum of Wigan Life. She has also undertaken large-scale private commissions for international clients, including a permenant site-specific installation at the Cotton House Spa on the island of Mustique.
Her work has also been presented in solo exhibitions, including Fragile Nature, a body of work exploring the fragility and transience of heritage plant forms, capturing the seasons through the historic gardens of Didsbury Parsonage through sculptural casting.
Her work bridges art, science, and history, offering both visual impact and deeper insight into the relationships between plants, people, and place. Recent developments focus on a series of sculptural works exploring poisonous plants and their cultural histories, designed for exhibition and installation in both public and private settings.
Her background in project development and management supports the delivery of complex, site-responsive commissions in collaboration with institutions, designers, architects and private clients.
Janet is based in the UK and works across sculpture, installation, and commissioned projects both nationally and internationally.