A smiling woman with long brown hair wearing a pink long-sleeve shirt and a brown skirt, standing in front of a white backdrop with pink, orange, and yellow abstract shapes.

MEET JESS

I’m Jess Farrell, an artist and Creative Director based in Abingdon.

I’ve always needed to create. Exploring how this could become part of my work has been a journey in itself. From being told not to put my eggs in one basket when I wanted to study 3D design, to hearing repeatedly that art doesn’t pay, I became aware of the narrative that creativity holds less value than other trades.

But for many of us, creating is how we operate. It’s where our unique magic comes from. Through creating, we imagine new ways of being, and as we evolve and shape a better world, that process becomes essential.

Over time, I realised creativity isn’t about fitting expectations. It’s about expressing something outwardly into the world. Everyone has their own story, their own pace and their own way of creating.

A woman in red sequined pants and a floral headband helps children with a craft activity at a holiday gathering, with festive decorations and warm lighting in the background.

WHAT SHAPES MY WORK

This belief now shapes my work. I create gentle, welcoming spaces where people can explore without pressure, reconnect with their ideas and express themselves with joy. I’m drawn to simple, hands on making and re imagining what already exists, transforming overlooked materials and everyday spaces into meaningful shared environments.

My current work evolves naturally, growing with the seasons, the people involved and the environment it sits within. Rather than fixed formats, each creative project develops intuitively, allowing ideas to shift and expand over time, creating unique spaces that nurture beauty, creativity and connection.

COLLABORATION & COMMUNITY

Collaboration sits at the heart of my work. I work with schools, charities, organisations and local spaces to bring creativity into everyday environments and invite people to express themselves in their own way.

Each partnership becomes an opportunity for shared making, connection and joy, from window displays and residencies to youth-led fashion shows and community projects.

THE LIFE SPACE PROJECT CIC

Alongside my artist practice, I founded the Life Space Project CIC to support inclusive creative programmes and public art in community settings.

I believe creativity is for everyone.

A woman painting a large blue canvas outdoors in a grassy backyard with a dog lying nearby.
Colorful buttons, beads, and sewing supplies on denim fabric and scissors on a wooden surface.
A young girl with light brown hair in pigtails, wearing a denim jacket, kneeling on grass, looking at a white t-shirt with pink and purple paint splatters laid out on a cardboard surface.
Two women smiling and talking indoors, one with long hair wearing a patterned sweater, the other with short hair and a dark blazer, with artwork and quotes on the wall behind them.
A woman wearing glasses and a white shirt is drawing white flower shapes and a wavy line on a black asphalt surface using white paint and a small brush.
Woman drawing a classroom crossing and stop sign on the pavement with chalk, outdoors, with art supplies nearby.