CV and Artist Statement
Jessica Heywood is a Sheffield based artist working predominantly in drawing and textiles. Her practice explores anatomical reality and liminality within the context of craft, specifically through studies of found dead animals and abstracted studies of the natural world.
Her work considers the boundary between life and death, observing the fragility of our everyday natural environments. Heywood captures bodies in considered and meticulous detail, honouring the found deceased creatures by providing them with an identity which otherwise would be neglected.
Labour intensive methods underpin Heywood’s practice, as they speak to the historic conversation happening throughout all drawings.
Selected groups exhibitions include:
Urban Jungles, Fronteer Gallery, Sheffield (2023); The Biosciences Research Symposium, The University of Sheffield, Sheffield (2023); Trinity Buoy Wharf Drawing Prize, Trinity Buoy Wharf London (2021); Portraits of S1, Site Gallery Sheffield (2020); Being Human Festival, School of Advanced Study, London (2019); Symbols, Cupola Gallery, Sheffield (2019); Fronteer, 35 Chapel Walk Gallery, Sheffield (2019); Cast Doorways, 35 Chapel Walk Gallery, Sheffield (2018); Ruskin Degree Show, Ruskin School of Art, Oxford (2018); The Art of Anatomy, St John’s College, Oxford (2018); Tenderfoot #5, APG Gallery, Sheffield (2017); Ruskin Summer Show, Ruskin School of Art, Oxford (2017); Interim, St Edmund Hall, Oxford (2017); Tenderfoot #4, APG Gallery, Sheffield (2016)
Solo exhibitions include:
Penniless?, The University of Sheffield, Sheffield (2023); Flock Off, Fronteer, Sheffield (2022); The Heartless Hurt Less, The Art House, Sheffield (2019)
Education and Awards
(2015 - 2018 Fine Art at The Ruskin School of Art, Oxford University (First Class Honours)
2012 - 2013 Foundation Degree in Fine Art at Chesterfield College
2024 Festival of the Mind Artist Front / 2023 BioFest Artist Grant / 2019 YVAN Microgrant / 2018 Open Scholarship, St Edmund Hall / 2018 Vivien Leigh Prize / 2017 The Peel Award / 2016 John Farthing Prize for Human Anatomy