Bio
Hannah Kershaw (Rollings) (b. 1985, UK) was born in the creative seaside town of Hastings, where she relished the art foundation course at Hastings College. She continued to study and received a first-class BA (Hons) in Illustration and Animation at Kingston University in 2007 and a Master of Arts in Sequential Design and Illustration in 2013 at the University of Brighton.
In 2014, she embarked on a practice-led AHRC-funded PhD through Kingston University and the London Doctoral Design Centre, focusing on picturing trees. Her love of nature and the outdoors gained further importance in her practice. She collaborated with the Forestry Commission and school children to develop site-specific interactive work encouraging a reconnection with nature.
Rollings has continued this reconnection through a prolific body of work since 2022 working plein air and on a larger scale in her home studio in the Surrey Hills.
Research statement
Working in an autoethnographic approach painting plein air through walks and large-scale paintings I hope to bring to life immersive locations. Rewilding looking to consider nature-based elements and narratives that captivate me as I work on a number of practice led research outputs including a residency and solo show in Hong Kong 2024, solo exhibition in Paris 2024 and the upcoming conference 22-23rd November 2024, International Illustration Research Symposium; Illustration and Heritage: Sharing Histories to Draw Out Futures. Paper Presentation: ‘A Tea Planters Archive’ Chelsea College of Arts, University of the Arts London.
I am interested in plein air painting, landscape painting now in an Anthropocene period. Experiential and creative outdoor education for wellbeing and to promote pro environmental values. An expanded illustration practice in conjunction and in dialogue with contemporary painting practice.
Professional Membership, Affiliation and Consultancy
2024:
- 13th September - 12th October 2024, 'See, Feel, Mark: A Journey of Exploration Painting in Hong Kong, Hannah Rollings Plein-Air Performance and Exhibition. Seefood Room Gallery, Hong Kong.
- 13th June 2024, 'England is a Forest' Small Works Gallery, Sluice (Vernacular) Expo at the Minories, Colchester. (Group exhibition)
- 9th-13th May 2024, 'The Change Within' Amelia Maxwell, JM Gallery, London. (Group exhibition).
- 9th-20th April 2024, 'It's A Small World' Blossom Art Agency, Paris. (Group exhibition)
- 9th & 10th March 2024, 'Therapeutic Landscapes: Ritual Folklore and Wellbeing'. University of Worcester. (Group exhibition)
2023:
- 2023, A Chorus of Colour, Milieu Studio, St. Ives, UK (Group)
- 2023, Makers Barn, Petworth, West Sussex, UK (Group)
- 2023, Travelling Bazaar, Farnham, Surrey, UK (Group)
2022 and older:
- 2022, The Helene and Johannes Huth Gallery, Design Museum, LDOC Legacy Event, UK (Group)
- 2020, Shortlisted in the Science and Technology Category, ‘Woodland Lifecycle Trail,’ World Illustration Awards, Online (Group)
- 2018, Shortlist ‘Freedom To Express Yourself: An Inspiration Notebook,’ World Illustration Awards, Somerset House, London, UK (Group)
- 2017, Write for Rights and Book Launch 'Freedom to Express Yourself' Amnesty International HQ, London, UK (Group)
- 2015, Research in Art & Design, Platform Gallery, Knights Park, Kingston University, UK (Group)
- 2015, SERCO Prize for Illustration: London Places and Spaces, London Transport Museum, London, UK (Group)
- 2015, Bologna Book Fair, Italy ‘An Artist Once Said: An Inspiration Book for Artists.’
- 2012 ‘Don’t Look Now’ by Mark Sanderson Commended Book Jacket, British Film Institute.
- 2011, Book Awards Category ‘My Travel Journal’ Commended. Victoria and Albert Illustration Awards, V&A, London, UK (Group)
- 2011, ‘Emerging Talent’ Cheltenham Illustration Awards, The University of Gloucestershire and Summerfield Gallery, Pittville Studios, UK (Group)
- 2008, Student Illustrator of the Year Prizewinners, Victoria and Albert Museum, London, UK (Group)
- 2007, D&AD Best New Blood Winner, Billingsgate London, UK (Group)
