Jessica

My interest in art began in high school as it was the only class that excited me and made me feel competent - I'd jump at every opportunity to visit galleries even if it meant bunking off from school!

I love to paint with acrylics impasto style (using palette knives) and with what's known as a catalyst wedge instead of brushes as this creates more texture. Both of these are somewhat unpredictable with the final piece of art - in my case anyway! - but I find these techniques propel my creativity to newer levels. I also like to draw with charcoal and ink and mixed media and have recently started to experiment with epoxy resin.

After finishing high school I was accepted into Kramer Art College now known as Leeds Art University but before completing the three-year course I ran away to join the circus, literally! My other passion is to perform on the trapeze as a trapeze artist. Needless to say, my mother was horrified no matter how many times I tried to explain that being a trapeze artist has a very short career span so I can return to art studies once that career is over.

Neither of those explanations came true.

I continue to perform as a trapeze artist to this day, a decade or so later, although a little less vigorously than my earlier years! And returning to my art studies proved more difficult than my flippant younger-self imagined.

But I still paint. I continue to create. Both of which my brain simply requires for me to exist!

Having the opportunity as an artist to collaborate with Cherry Moon is a wonderful platform for me personally as my main focus at Kramer Art College was fashion. I've always wanted to create art that's functional whether it be on clothing, furniture, soft furnishings or costumes. So collaborating with Cherry Moon provides me a new opportunity to explore ways to combine the world of fashion with real art - perhaps this is my alternative way to return to my short-lived art studies - this will make my mother smile!