Janis Ridley was born in Co Durham and studied sculpture at Newcastle-upon-Tyne School of Art and painting at Exeter College of Art where she graduated in 1976 with a BA Hons Fine Art.

Having been a successful painter and exhibiting her work, including the Royal Academy, in 1995 Janis decided to concentrate solely on sculpture. She was elected a member of the Royal British Society of Sculptors in 1998.

I am inspired by birds in flight, dance, certain myths, and writers such as Paulo Coelho. I explore feelings of love, humour, power, trust, the human story. Sculpture is a way of communicating complex emotions, feelings and ideas. Often these are revealed to me in the making of the sculpture.

Janis exhibits her sculpture throughout the UK and can be found in private collections in France, Australia and the USA.