Janet Hayes has had thirteen solo exhibitions in Australia including exhibitions at Libby Edwards Gallery, when it was situated in South Yarra, and Adam Gallery, in Melbourne CBD. Currently she is looking for representation. She has also been involved in many group exhibitions in the Yarra Valley, Melbourne, Sydney, and Darwin. She has exhibited her artwork in overseas exhibitions in New York, and other areas of the USA, London, and touring exhibitions in China, Canada and Europe.

In the late seventies she studied art at the Melbourne College of Decoration, and then studied life drawing with Con Pappas at Era School, Donvale, and in the mid-eighties she studied portraiture with artist Daniel Greene in New York.

Her artworks have been published in magazines and books nationally, and internationally; International Artist, International Pastel Artist and Australian Artist magazines. Books include; Luminous Colour- Showcasing Australian Pastel Artists, Best of Pastel series (USA) and Best of Worldwide Artists Working in Charcoal, Pastel and Pencil. In 2022 she self published her book, The Art of Creating with Pastel, based on 35 years of working in and teaching the pastel medium.

Among several awards she has received is the Allied Artists of America Award at the Pastel Society of America annual exhibition, New York City in 1993. More recently, in March 2022, she won a prize for her figurative study “Contemplation” in the “Faith in Pandemic Times” exhibition at the Incinerator Gallery, Aberfeldie, Melbourne, in October 2021 her portrait was selected as a semi-finalist in the national, prestigious Doug Moran prize, in July 2019 Janet won the Inaugural John Dudley Portrait Prize for her “Self Portrait with Hands” and in August 2017, she won Best Pastel/Acrylic at the Bayside Art Show, Brighton, for her Pastel: “Lotus Lilies NT”.

As an artist who shares her skills Janet is a sought after teacher for art classes, workshops, demonstrations and as a judge of art shows and competitions.

Janet was a founding member and first Vice President of the Pastel Society of Victoria, Australia. She is a signature member of the Pastel Society of America and an honorary member of both the PSVA and the Societe des Pastellistes de France.

Janet Hayes’ award winning self portrait with hands.
This portrait won the Inaugural John Dudley Portrait Prize. The Judge, Lee Machelak, made the following comments:
“A stunning painting, well drawn and executed with restrained and beautiful colour. It is a complex and multi faceted image which gives us a fascinating glimpse into the psyche of the artist. and HANDS- as if one pair weren’t enough!!”

Janet Hayes' award winning pastel artwork at The Bayside Art Show with Judge's, distinguished artist David Taylor, comments;”There is the freedom and knowledge of this wonderful medium in this work of art. The use and execution of the greens in natu… — Janet Hayes' award winning pastel artwork at The Bayside Art Show with Judge's, distinguished artist David Taylor, comments;
”There is the freedom and knowledge of this wonderful medium in this work of art. The use and execution of the greens in nature and the beauty of flowing shape abounds here and it works poetically and freely as if by magical means. There is a good sense of the structure of the lotus lily.”