Jenny Fell
Jenny Fell’s love of the natural world, concern for the environment and walking in the mid-Wales landscape has provided the inspiration for much of her work as an artist.
After completing her degree in 1981 at the School of Art, Aberystwyth University, Jenny was determined to continue working in printmaking and set up her studio in the long-lost Barn Centre, Aberystwyth with the aid of a grant towards equipment from the Arts Council of Wales . Her printing press was a Victorian mangle purchased for £5 and she made use of old lino which was being removed from the Barn Centre. Since then Jenny has received numerous grants from the Arts Council of Wales in support of her work.
From the outset Jenny opened her studio for others to participate in print workshops (both screen printing and lino). For many years she worked with clients from Gorwelion Day Hospital as well as with people from other sections of the community.
Jenny’s interest in the environment led to working in collaboration with the art and environment organisation Creuad during the first decade of the 2000’s ( directed by Shelagh Hourahane and in the beginning with Lynne Denman). Alongside Creuad she worked with the local schools , community groups and other artists on projects such as the ‘Sense of Arrival’ project at Ynyslas Nature Reserve Visitor Centre wildlife of the reserve mosaic (2003) also a print-making project with Tregaron School on a similar project drawing attention to the flora and fauna of Cors Caron. Other work in schools with Creuad includes another print-making project with pupils at Ysgol Hyddgen School Machynlleth, again centred on wild-life at the RSPB Reserve Ynys hir.
From 2001-2009 Jenny was Artist in Residence in hospitals throughout north east Wales working on creative projects with patients and staff. It was this work as Artist in Residence which led to a further development in Jenny's career as she studied 15 years ago to train as an art psychotherapist. She continues to work in this field primarily with people living with dementia.
Jenny has participated in more than 50 exhibitions throughout the U.K. and has illustrated several books for children published by Gwasg Gomer Press. She is both a founder member and one of the directors of Aberystwyth Printmakers.