I’m Jess, a writer and creative based in Bristol. 

Growing up in the hills of Montego Bay, where folklore is as prevalent as fruit, my love for language was instilled early on, alongside a reverence for nature. But my route into my various strands of work has not been linear. I tend to follow my instincts.

In 2015, after my first trip back to Jamaica as an adult, to make a documentary about my childhood home, I left a secure civil service job in comms to try my hand at freelance copywriting. I didn’t have a single client or any real idea what I was doing, but I knew I couldn’t keep working a 9-5. 

It took time to build up hummingbird copy, the first iteration of my business, and I had a few things going on the side in the meantime (including a gender-battling DJ crew known as the Dutty Dozen Soundclash). Ultimately, though, I made a sustainable living as a pen for hire. 

Back in 2019, things took a slightly different turn, when close friends asked me to be the celebrant at their father’s funeral, something I had never done before. I ended up pursuing accreditation in that field, and have since helped many grieving families find the right words for their people.

In 2024, I joined the team at the Diverse Artists Network as producer of the inaugural DIASPORA! festival. A first-of-its-kind event for Bristol and beyond, platforming artists from underrepresented diasporas. I have worked with DAN ever since. I’m also a community engagement producer with Seeta Patel Dance, working on a project called Anatomy of Solidarity.

As much as I love writing for others, and working as a producer, my ultimate aim has always really been to fulfil my own potential as a writer. Over the years, my work has been featured in various publications, and short and long listed for international prizes, most recently the Edinburgh Essay Award 2025. I also run a monthly group for Global Majority writers at Bristol’s Arnolfini.

Get in touch to find out more. Photo by Mahla Axon.