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, I’m also committed to my own creative work. 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.