ARTIST STATEMENT

Jessica is a British-Australian artist based in Brighton, UK. Her work draws from a deep fascination with mythology, history, and the stories that shape human understanding of the world. Blending classical figurative painting with pop aesthetics, she creates visual dialogues between the ancient and the contemporary, the organic and the manufactured.

With a wide ranging background spanning classical studies, environmental policy, and data systems, Jessica is particularly interested in how civilisations inscribe meaning onto the artefacts they create alongside, and in dialogue with, the natural environment.

By weaving together elements from art history, the natural world and consumer culture, she invites reflection on what is lost, preserved, or transformed as stories pass through time.

Jessica has exhibited in both Australia and the UK, with her first solo show at the ‘Yellow Book’ Brighton in 2024.

ArtCan Member Artist

Upcoming Exhibitions

Sussex Contemporary Artwave Festival 2025 ‘The Land we Live Within’ 18 - 21 September 2025.

Transport for London, Colleague Art Exhibition, Southwark Corporate Office. 8 - 26 September 2025.

Oxonmoot Art Exhibition 2025. The Tolkien Society. St Annes College, Oxford and online. 4 - 7 September 2025.

Awards

Extended Longlist for the Jackson’s Art Prize 2025.

Preselected/longlisted for the Women in Art Prize 2023, 2024 and 2025.

Wales Contemporary Competition 2022 shortlist, Waterfront Gallery, Milford Haven (October - November) Gallery@oxo, London 30 November to 4 December 2022.

Solo Exhibition

‘From Florence to Pop’ Solo Show. 12 May to 7 June 2024, Yellow Book (in collaboration with Sweet Venues Brighton)

Selected Past Group Exhibitions

  • ‘Vibrancy’ Artcan Residency Angel Central, London. July, 2025.

  • ‘Time is the Real Currency’ Mid Street Lab Gallery, Brighton. May, 2025.

  • Transport for London, Colleague art exhibition, Corporate Offices, October, 2024.

  • ‘AIR Open’(online exhibition), AIR Gallery website https://www.artsteps.com/view/64b7ce720fb6add0eb0b4c08/?currentUser

  • ‘Take Time’ Ilkley Manor House, Ilkley UK 16 September to 15 October 2023.

  • Thamesside Studios Open Exhibition, Thamesside Studio Gallery, London. June 2023.

  • A Night at the Museum, Fortyone gallery, Sydney, Australia, July 2019

  • May the Fourth Be With You, Fortyone gallery, Sydney, Australia, May 2019

Media

‘HAUS-A-REST’ Zine Issue 41 - Ageing - September 2023 https://www.haus-a-rest.com/new-page-45

‘Art Talk’ Podcast Interview - 13 May 2023 Apple YouTube Spotify

Education

  • 1:1 Mentoring - Catherine Bobkowski April - November 2022

  • 6 week intensive workshop - Florence Academy of Art February - March 2022

instagram @jessicasheehan_artist

Lady of Lórien hanging in the Tolkien Society exhibition at Oxonmoot this weekend, at St Annes College, Oxford University. I absolutely love her against the grey wall! There will also be a small number of 30 x 20 cm giclee prints available on
'Lady of Lórien' 2025. Oil and acrylic on canvas, 14 x 23 inches (36 x 59cm). I am very excited to announce that the Lady will make her exhibition debut with the Tolkien Society at Oxonmoot September 2025, the annual global event hosted at S
Another preview. "Such is oft the course of deeds that move the wheels of the world: small hands do them because they must, while the eyes of the great are elsewhere." #tolkienart #brightonartist
"Dig at Bevendean Farm Green" - 15 x 21 cm (A5 size) oil on canvas board. Thanks to my wonderful model and pro digger @katystoddard, digging with @brightonhovearch and @brightonyac at Bevendean Farm Green a month or so back. I will be en
SKETCHBOOK UPDATE: Kit's Coty House, watercolour and pen (and tea...) on paper. I may do a print run of this later on in the year 🌿 Another one from a recent summer drive, this time to Kent. Kit's Coty was constructed around 6000 years ago in the N
"Pontomedon, Lord of the Sea" has made it through to the Longlist of the @womeninartprize_ Fingers crossed for the next round 🤞🌊🔱 #womeninartprize #womeninartprize2025 #brightonartist #buyart #newpainting #environmentalart
A few months ago we drove to Corfe Castle in Dorset. I was taken by a collapsed wall I saw there. Despite the solidness of stone and devastation from the civil war, nature had long claimed the structures back to her own. I also had the great fortun
"Materia Medica" 2025. Oil and acrylic on stretched linen, 30 x 30cm. A handwritten herbal recipe book, a diary of poems, a rose, and an empty glass bottle waiting to be filled. A second painting from my herbalism mini series. Now availa