Castlefield Gallery Associates Spotlight: Jess Robinson

Posted on 3 December 2025

This month, we have asked photographer Jess Robinson to contribute to our Castlefield Gallery Associates Spotlight series, in which current Castlefield Gallery Associates share their thoughts on what the programme offers and how it has been useful for them. Jess was awarded a place on the Salford Scholars 24/25 cohort, run by the University of Salford Art Collection in partnership with Castlefield Gallery, and stayed on as a member of the Associates.

Can you tell us a little bit about your practice?

My practice spans across a number of fields but usually begins with photography. I am interested in humans and nature, and where the two have lost each other over time and how they can be brought back together. I take lots of photos of humans for my job as a freelance photographer working in music and events, and I take lots of photos of the natural world as a human that enjoys spending time in it. So my artistic practice sits somewhere in between these two aspects, trying to find common ground and remembering what one can do for the other.

I usually make work by myself, however I am interested in and actively pursuing taking my practice into participatory and socially engaged settings where I can further explore the importance of human-nature connection and share the benefits this has with others, particularly those that suffer most with a loss of connection/access to nature.

How did you hear about Castlefield Gallery Associates and why did you want to join?

After getting a year of membership as part of the graduate scholarship programme I decided I wanted to keep my membership, mainly to stay part of the community around Castlefield and keep up to date on all the amazing events and opportunities that are shared each month.

What are you looking forward to most about your coming year’s membership?

Being able to stay connected with other artists is so vital for me when it comes to making and being creative, so I am looking forward to attending more events, talks and workshops, and just generally getting to know the community better.