Jean Haines (UK) is one of today’s most influential watercolor artists, celebrated for her liberating and highly expressive approach. She is known for redefining the medium, promoting a style that allows the water and pigment to guide the process. Her work often focuses on nature—flowers, animals, and landscapes—and is distinguished by an atmospheric and ethereal quality that has captivated collectors worldwide.
Her style evolved after extensive travels. Crucial to her development was her time in China, where she refined her brush control, and her stays in countries like India and Dubai, which introduced a more vibrant color palette. This fusion of precision and chromatic vitality is the basis of her loose and spontaneous technique, often described as the art of “letting the watercolor paint itself.”
In addition to being recognized for her exhibitions, Haines is a best-selling author and an internationally acclaimed instructor. Her books, such as Atmospheric Flowers in Watercolour, have transformed the teaching of watercolor painting. She is a regular contributor to art magazines and has influenced the materials sector, collaborating with brands like DANIEL SMITH Artists’ Materials to create pigment sets that reflect her particular taste for color and luminosity.
Her success has positioned her as a driving force in the modernization of watercolor, standing out for her ability to capture the essence of a subject with energy and movement. As a virtual juror for the Tartget Prize 2026, Jean Haines will contribute her unique vision to evaluate artists who demonstrate technical boldness and an execution that infuses emotion and life into their works, seeking beauty in the unexpected.