Jane Eccles was born in Smiths Falls, Ontario  in 1949. Her formal education involved a B.A. in Fine Arts and English from the University of Guelph and a B.Ed from University of Toronto. She retired from a teaching career in 2003. She was awarded the Marshall McLuhan Award for Distinguished Teaching in 1992. For twenty five years Jane Eccles has built a career as a painter and performer and is recognized as a supporter of the arts. She shares her studio-home with artist Ron Eccles. She is the mother of Ryan and Bradley.