Jess Frankland (b. 1993, Salisbury, United Kingdom) is a contemporary painter and video artist based in Devon. Working primarily in oil and acrylic on wooden board, she is known for her use of bright colour and imagery drawn from real and imagined experiences, often involving journeys and figures.
Her practice is based on autobiographical subject matter, with a focus on female narratives and psychological spaces. Her work is defined by a direct approach to referencing through visual language, using her influence from classical painting works and life events to structure paintings that tell narratives. The series produced for SUN DANCER (2026) marks a turning point in her practice.
Jess Frankland has exhibited her work nationally, including her debut solo show SUN DANCER at Phoenix Art Space and the Turner Contemporary. She was awarded a D&AD Silver Pencil for her short films and has self-published work available through the Photographers’ Gallery. Frankland studied Graphic Communication Design at Chelsea College of Art, Falmouth University and Open School East. She was an artist in residence at Open School East 2020-21 and supported by the Kings Trust 2024-25.
CV
Born in 1993 in Salisbury, United Kingdom
Resides and works in Devon, United Kingdom
EDUCATION
2020-2021, Associates Programme, Open School East, Margate, United Kingdom
2013-2016, Graphic Design Communication, Chelsea College of Art, London, United Kingdom
2012-2013, Foundation Diploma in Art & Design, Falmouth University, Falmouth, United Kingdom
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2026, SUN DANCER, Phoenix Art Space, Brighton, United Kingdom
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2025,The Heirloom, University of The Arts London, United Kingdom
2024, Props’til You Drop, London, United Kingdom
2024, Untitled Group Exhibition, Broadgate Quarter, London, United Kingdom
2021-2022, Risky Business (collaboration with Ted Rogers), Turner Contemporary, Margate, United Kingdom
2021, How To Lift Heavy, Open School East, Margate, United Kingdom
2020, POW! Festival, Margate, United Kingdom
2020, La Poupe (in collaboration with Anthea Hamilton), Margate, United Kingdom
2019, Hogacre Community Art Show, Oxford, United Kingdom
AWARDS
2016, Sliver Pencil, D&AD, London, United Kingdom
RESIDENCIES
2020-2021, Associates Programme, Open School East, Margate, United Kingdom
GRANTS
2025, Test Grant, Kings Trust, London, United Kingdom
2021, Open School East Grant, Margate, United Kingdom
2016, Graphic Design Communication Grant, Chelsea College of Art, London, United Kingdom
SELECTED PRESS
Jess Frankland, “Poem of the Soul”, Shoreditch Community Magazine (2024)
Dazed Media, With Vinca Petersen, Dazed & Confused, 30th Issue (2023)
PUBLICATIONS
Jess Frankland, Photographic Zine. London: Self-published, 2025
Jess Frankland, Followers. London: Self-published, 2016
GDC 2016, What’s Next. Chelsea College of Art: Self-published, 2014
PROFESSIONAL CONTRIBUTIONS
2024-2025, Performer, You Me Bum Bum Train, West End Theatre Production, London, United Kingdom
2023, Art and Design Tutor, Laidlaw Education, London, United Kingdom
2022-2023, Workshop Co-Leader, Mould (Stroud Valley Arts), Stroud, United Kingdom
2020, Workshop Co-lead, Roland Carline: Where Are You At This Christmas?, Margate, United Kingdom
2020-2022, Co-Lead, Community Art School, Open School East, Margate, United Kingdom
2018-2020, Workshop Leader and Art Assistant, Ark-T, Oxford, United Kingdom
2016-2017, Visiting Lecturer, Chelsea College of Arts, London, United Kingdom
2016-2017, Archivist and Photographer’s Assistant, Nina Manandhar, London, United Kingdom