Jemma Rowlston

🎥 Dear Wes - 2025 -
We live in a time where some lives are used as distraction by the powerful. So we stand; we fight the misinformation and we give voice and light to those who are oppressed as distraction for the things we should be outraged by.
📸 A year ago this month - Dear Wes.
Still one of the projects and things I’ve had the privilege to be a part of I’m most proud of.
Happy day.

2016…
…bringing the Flying Scotsman back to the public…
… pioneering museum Lates whilst indulging in my 20s philia…
…selling out at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival…
…taking my favourite picture of that still lives rent free in my head…
… the year of lipstick and vintage vibes with my old kitten…
…the discovery of the animatronic Berkstrom used to terrorise my office…
…these bi***es, my favourite bi***es…

2026…
I can only hope you’re as iconic. And you’re already set up to be…
New opportunities with other engine based things, new creative prospects, the year of the lipstick is back, Berkstrom has been threatened upon the new office and the bi***es are back… ❤️💪 #2016 #2026

Coming soon… 💫

🦇 Legacy 🦇
October got me thinking about and the legacy of the Prince of Darkness. I painted this. It appeared at the Whitby Weekend a couple of weeks ago. This week Yungblud was nominated for multiple Grammys, including the performance featured in this piece, so it felt like I should tell the world about this.

The incredible has been one of the people we’ve worked with that inspired us to create our Unlocked courses, starting with Story 101 and Script 101. It’s not the first time we’ve shared industry secrets 🤫 ✍️

Places are limited. Book now at the link in BIO or https://www.ofitd.com/unlocked-learning

PS to celebrate the launch of Unlocked, all ticket holders on this course get a lifetime discount to all other Unlocked Programmes 🫶 🥇

I sometimes (always) forget to post about my art…
This was a birthday present for my dad. I painted it first in the peace of a cabin in the middle of a beautiful forest and finished it in the middle of the Edinburgh Fringe Festival right before seeing a magic show all about art (shout out to !). My brother’s cat then decided to add her finishing touches to the corner as seen in one of the last pictures (authenticators use Instagram, right?). It’s smaller than a lot I’ve been working on but I enjoyed painting with someone in mind (and discovering how much gouache doesn’t like covering pencil… 🫣).

Enjoy seeing it develop x - JR

Gouache on canvas. 25cm x 30cm.

Going through my decks I stumbled onto this shoot with and HAD to do an appreciation post - isn’t she so good?!? If you’re wanting fun shots for a project or your career or simply to just feel like a rockstar, Katie is your girl. She’s one of my favourite photographers, is so fun and easy to work with, makes you look HOT and CUTE and AWESOME and is just the BEST. I can’t recommend her more. Yes, she’s also the legend that shoots in anything iconic. Treat yourself to being iconic. Do it. Xx
📸
🧥
👖 and girl knew it
📍 London

Last night was incredible. We premiered Dear Wes… at the . The reaction to Part 2/the turn was incredible (part 1/the pledge is out now - think of it as the prologue to the main thing. Link in bio or see it here : https://youtu.be/06bu04v-fXA?si=IgQ5VoLACxFk-Gw1 ).

You’ll be able to see Part 2 this Friday (June 27), and I do hope you do. It’ll be yours then, to use as the tool we hope it to be in the fight for human rights.

Thanks to everyone who came, who supports from a distance, and who stands up. Keep doing it 🩵🩷🤍

And CONGRATS-U-LATIONS to the team at and the fantastic crew who helped us bring this film to the BIG SCREEN. Absolute beauts!!

The Dracula Returns to Derby conference over the past 4 days has been absolutely incredible - and as revolutionary and disruptive as Dracula and Hamilton Deane themselves. The quality of the talks (given by not just academics but independents whose depth of personal study qualified them in and of itself - down with academic gatekeeping!) was immense, with such diverse and inspirational thoughts covered. There were performances and events from Poetry Slams (and bringing the best of Derbyshire poets to the stage) to Punk Band nights (and my falling in love with ) to performances from embedded into talks to further debates and consideration of this incredible text. I was also given the incredible opportunity to delve into Derby’s history, its connection with Hamilton Deane and Dracula, and get on my own soapbox and develop and deliver a walking tour that led the delegation from the Museum of Making through to our special toast to Dracula led by the wonderful . (I also got to find out what punk is to as I hosted the most fun band night ever). I’ve met some incredible people this week, been inspired, and been enthralled by the community this conference has created. Thank you to the team behind it - Alex Duncan Diane and more - I can’t wait to see what’s next.

Finishing a piece always feels like a moment. Sometimes I put that moment off - edging the border and signing your name feels like a full stop; the decision to say ‘this is finished’. Whether it’s painting or writing or a show, that final polish is hard and sometimes emotional. But it’s also absolutely rewarding, exhilarating and exciting. On to the next one. And into the world this one goes.

Thank you to the individual who commissioned this; you got me back into painting big stuff and enjoying it. Signed, sealed, delivered, JR x