Fiona Jackson

Fiona Jackson was born in Ireland in 1982. She studied at NCAD (National College of Art and Design), Ballyfermot College of Further Education (Art and Design), and more recently at Moate Business College. Artistic study and creative inquiry have been integral to her life for as long as she can remember.

Her formal engagement with art began in St  Wolston’s  Secondary School, Celbridge, Co. Kildare, where she was encouraged and mentored by her inspiring art teacher Mr Harrison, who recognised and nurtured her creative curiosity. This early affirmation strengthened her conviction that art could and should form the foundation of her professional life. That support instilled a lasting resilience and commitment, enabling her to continue pursuing her practice regardless of life’s circumstances.

Jackson has exhibited in Oxford, England, and Athlone, Ireland. Her residency at Abbey Road Artists’ Studios is an opportunity that she intends to share with all who share and wish to partake in the Love of Art.

Artistic Statement

Fiona Jackson’s practice begins with an exploration of emotion through movement and subject. Her work is primarily abstract, evolving from preparatory sketches of objects closely connected to the theme she is investigating. These objects serve as points of departure—intimate, tangible references that translate personal experience into visual language.

In the piece Breathing, Jackson selected a string of beads—a necklace—as a symbolic object that evoked a personal, physical response to the act of breathing. Through a series of compositional sketches, the object was gradually abstracted and refined, culminating in the final drawn and painted work. This reflective and intuitive process characterizes her broader approach to art-making.

By grounding her compositions in familiar, everyday objects, Jackson seeks to evoke a shared physical and emotional response in the viewer. She aims to create an atmosphere of quiet comfort in which the audience feels invited to connect deeply with the work. Through personal recognition, the viewer may become more open to the experience of the piece—engaging both mind and body and moving beyond passive observation toward reflection and felt understanding.

Jackson works across a range of media including oil, pastel, pencil, graphite, acrylic, charcoal, and photography. Her preparatory and developmental stages often incorporate a combination of these materials, allowing each piece to evolve organically. Fiona believes that “The journey of Art is to give a story, this is to achieve.”