For the first time ever, Kington is playing host to an art exhibition featuring an unusual unifying theme... all the artists share the same name.

The ‘Jess Collective’ brings together nine talented artists, predominantly from Herefordshire and the Welsh borders, who will showcase their work at RidgeBank gallery from April 11 until the end of May.

“As far as we know, this is a world first – never before has there been an exhibition with works all created by people called Jess,” said gallery owner Caroline Allen.

The artists’ works cover a wide range of styles and mediums, many drawing inspiration from the local landscape, while reflecting the individual personalities and experiences of the creators. In this context, the exhibition also explores what it means to be a ‘Jess’.

“An individual’s name is a fundamental part of their identity, serving as a symbol and an anchor in development of their personality and self-concept,” explained Ms Allen.

“The ‘Jess Collective’ invites viewers to consider names as signs and cultural associations, and how these meanings might also influence the development of creative practice.”

The exhibition will be open at RidgeBank contemporary art space, 1 High Street, Kington, HR5 3AX, from Wednesday to Saturday, 12pm to 5pm. It runs until May 30.

Meet the ‘Jess Collective’:

Jess Allen is a Paris-based photographic artist who uses the lens as a 'third eye,' holding memories to reflect on the mind’s constructions and flaws. Jess Allen aims to acknowledge the ontology of objects - especially the camera - and how it produces its own version of reality.

Jess Davis moved to Kington in 2022 and can still remember her first trip up Hergest Ridge. A place of beauty, brutality, hope and loneliness, the ‘Ridge’ is the inspiration for a series of artworks. Jess Davis loves to spend time experimenting with different techniques and has a particular passion for inks.

Jess Dixon from Hay works predominantly in oil paint. Her figurative paintings are subtly abstracted, floating somewhere between dream and reality. Jess Dixon uses a soft, restrained palette, the work is slow, tender and reflective, drawing the viewer into an intimate emotional space.

Jess Edwards lives in Bradnor where she is drawn to the quiet magic of the natural world, inspiring her to create intricate etymology art and detailed observations of mushrooms, skulls and foliage. Jess Edwards celebrates the overlooked, capturing the beauty in small details, encouraging the viewer to look closer.

Jess Hinsley is a landscape artist based in Bannau Brycheiniog (the Brecon Beacons). Her work explores her love of nature and wild places. Mountains are where she feels most at home. Jess Hinsley paints mostly ‘en plein air’ in acrylic, using quick, spontaneous marks.

Jess Lowe from Brilley, will be showcasing a series of personal yet surreal acrylic paintings in an illustrative style. Reflecting her zest for life, a love of colour, friends (including the furry variety), and the awe-inspiring place she feels lucky enough to call home, Jess Lowe aims to insight a smile with her art.

Jess MacKenzie has lived on the Welsh Hereford borders for over 30 years. Known for being director of About Face Theatre, she is now looking to develop her creative ambition in new ways. Jess Mackenzie will be exploring her love of textiles and religious art, showcasing sacred hearts and other icons at the exhibition.

Jess Watkins from Hay will present a selection of her recent screen prints, exploring themes of mythology and magic. Jess Watkins work weaves together recurring motifs - the female form, the moon, birds in flight, shrines, and the cyclical rhythms of nature - creating imagery that feels both grounded and otherworldly.

Jess Wood lives in Hereford, creating intuitive, symbolic paintings rooted in nature, healing, and transformation. Jess Wood uses art as an expressive tool, which after illness became an anchor for healing - a way of speaking, remembering, and reclaiming.