Current Exhibition: Jess Hellens

After almost twenty years away from painting, Jess returned to the practice only two years ago and has spent a lot of that time experimenting, making mistakes and finally settling into her style of abstract landscapes. Her use of metallic paints and inks, texture and layering on canvas creates work that shifts in tone and depth as the light changes throughout the day. Her process is intuitive and she doesn't paint the landscapes from reference photos, instead the colour palettes and environments emerge naturally. These recurring themes reflect her love of nature and fascination with awe-inspiring expansive spaces. The paintings exist for one reason: to offer you somewhere else to be. Somewhere calmer, dreamier, further from wherever you're standing right now. Jess is from Somerset, is based in Bristol and paints at In Bristol Studios in Barton Hill. You're welcome to drop her a line to arrange a studio visit, or find her work at the BS5 Arts Trail in September, where she exhibits alongside the local creative community.