The Story Behind the Work
"I'm Lisa, a British-born story artist now working from my Ohio studio. After thirty years making visual work for others, I came back to what I was meant to do: creating heirloom paintings that hold real stories."
My work is inspired by meaning, memory, and a sense of presence.
I don’t paint portraits.
I paint the feeling of a person, a place, a business, a memory, or a turning point.
Each piece begins by listening for what matters most, then translating that meaning into symbolism, colour, composition, and handwork — so the story can be lived with, not just looked at.
The First Piece
The first story painting I ever made was for my mum.
In the hospice, a small butterfly was placed on her heart.
That quiet detail stayed with me.
After she passed, I painted a butterfly — not as decoration, but as a way of holding what words could not. I didn’t paint her portrait. I painted her essence. The feeling of her. The love. The ache. The presence that remained.
That was the moment I understood what this work really was.
Not simply painting.
Not simply design.
But a way of giving the story a place to live.
That's when Lisa Jane | Heirloom Story Art began.
Every story deserves to be seen, not just told.
When you share your story with me, small details begin to surface — a memory, a feeling, a place, a colour, a sound.
I listen for the pieces that hold meaning, then translate them into symbols, patterns, and colour.
Each painting is handcrafted on natural wood with 24k gold leaf.
The finished piece becomes something to return to every day — a reminder of what you have loved, carried, survived, built, or become.
Not decoration.
A piece of your story, made visible, that is created to be lived with, kept, and passed down.
I create heirloom story art for families, milestones, memorials, businesses, and personal turning points,
for anyone carrying a story worth keeping.