A woman with short, tight, curly black hair, wearing a patterned jacket with vibrant colors and designs, and a distinctive earring, smiling and looking over her shoulder outdoors.

Photo by @mahlapearl

Hello.

I’m Jess, a Bristol-based writer, creative producer, workshop facilitator and accredited funeral celebrant. I help arts and cultural organisations, charities, community groups and individuals translate ideas and experiences into ways of connecting with people. 

Either by finding the words they need to communicate something important, through writing that inspires new thinking or change. Or by making things happen - developing ideas into workable projects, bringing communities together around a shared purpose. Sometimes I help people find their own words, through creative writing workshops. And sometimes I help people say goodbye to someone or something they have lost.

After freelancing for over a decade, my past client list is pretty varied. Ranging from the BBC and Aldi, to smaller, more local businesses, projects and people, where my heart and interests really lie.

I’ve written for TV magicians, sound installations, record labels, nature trails and artist development programmes. I’ve produced independent films, community events, exhibitions and arts festivals. I’ve held workshops in schools, front rooms, art galleries and fields. I’ve worked with families (of origin and chosen) to craft unforgettable funeral ceremonies.

Everything I do is underpinned by the same core skills: listening closely for what actually matters, finding the story, communicating clearly, and weaving (sometimes wrangling) disparate strands into cohesion. And by the same core beliefs: art and making things are integral to who we are as a species (humans have always tried to make sense of the world through creative expression), and all of us have known or will know grief, loss and transition. I’m drawn to areas of work that underline how indelibly connected we all are.

I also write and produce my own stuff, including an award-winning documentary on returning with my brother to our childhood home in Jamaica. And a forthcoming multidisciplinary project, exploring the story of an 18th-century shipwreck. My writing has been published in anthologies and journals, and shortlisted for international prizes like the Bridport Prize (Flash Fiction, 2020) and the Edinburgh Essay Award (2025).

If you think I could help you to make something happen, get in touch.