Janet Bailey trained as a tile decorator, and worked as a designer and painter in Wiltshire for several years before opening her own china decorating business; designing, painting and marketing her own work. Having left to live on a yacht and travel to Turkey and back, she painted constantly in oils and watercolours and sold her work all over the Mediterranean. She also took commissions from other yachts.

In 1992 she returned to Cornwall and opened her own small gallery in Truro, selling her own and other local artists work. Janet is currently painting freelance full time and selling her work across Cornwall.