Jonty Lees
Course Leader BA(Hons) Fine Art
I’m interested in how artistic practice is shaped by institutions, collections, education systems, and the studio itself. My work often centres on repetition, digital image-making, and the quiet force of process. While I’ve previously been involved in socially engaged projects, my current focus is on building structures that support thoughtful, sustained artistic work.
I lead the BA Fine Art course at Falmouth and co-direct the Falmouth Painting Platform, a new initiative for public conversation and experimental exchange in contemporary painting.
External Links
Qualifications
Qualifications
| Year | Qualification | Awarding body |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | MFA | The Slade School of Fine Art - UCL |
| 2003 | BA (Hons) | Falmouth College of Art. University of Plymouth |
Research Interests
Research interests and expertise
- Structures that support or shape artistic practice
- Repetition and process in painting
- Digital image-making and animation
- Typographic and language-based visual work
- Alternative models of institutional renewal
- Public collections as cultural memory
- Conditions of studio labour and attention
- Rhythms and constraints of educational systems
- Cultural placemaking and the role of art in shaping public space
- The relationship between slowness, care, and making
Research topics
- Painting as a process-based, time-sensitive practice
- Repetition, rhythm, and constraint in contemporary art
- The politics and aesthetics of digital image-making
- Cultural placemaking and the role of artists in civic life
- The function of public collections in education and memory
- Language, typography, and visual communication
- Institutional structures and alternative models of artistic support
- Art education and the temporal pressures of the studio
- Conditions of labour in artistic and educational settings
Research Topics
- Education
- Engagement
- The Cornwall Council Schools Art Collection
Research Outputs
Publications and research outputs
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Lees, Jonty and Hospital Rooms
(2020), Hospital Rooms Video, online
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Lees, Jonty and Pool School Gallery CIC
(2019), Pool School Gallery CIC Contemporary Artist Programme 2019/2020, In: Pool School Gallery CIC Contemporary Artist Programme 2019/2020, 31 0ctober 2019, Pool School Gallery, Item availability may be restricted. -
Halvorsen, Morten Norbye, Lees, Jonty, Cornwall Council and Pool Academy
(2018), Pool School Gallery CIC Contemporary Artist Programme 2018/2019, In: ZENNOR, June/July 2018, Pool School Gallery CIC -
Lees, Jonty and Tate
(2014), Art Base Tate St Ives 21st Birthday Celebration, In: Art Base Tate St Ives 21st Birthday Celebration, June 2014, Tate St Ives -
Lees, Jonty
(2014), Quiet Works, Philadelphia,Pennsylvania, United States -
Lees, Jonty, Phoenix, Dr Cassandra, Fleming, Prof Lora, Leverhulme Trust and European Centre for Environment and Human Health
(2013), Lightening never strikes the same abstract wooden sculpture twice, In: Lightening never strikes the same abstract wooden sculpture twice, 2013, Newlyn Art Gallery -
Lees, Jonty
(2008), Cabaret Futura, Cell Project Space, London -
Lees, Jonty and Institute of Contemporary Art
(2008), The Inaugural Meeting of the Artists' Cycling Club, Institute of Contemporary Art, London -
Lees, Jonty and Tate St Ives
(2007), Jonty Lees: Artist in Residence, Tate St Ives -
Lees, Jonty
(2006), Jonty Lees, MOOT, Nottingham
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Lees, Jonty, Halvorsen, Morten Norbye, Pool School Gallery CIC, Cornwall Council and Royal Cornwall Museum
(2019), Cornwall Council Schools Art Collection, Pool School Gallery
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Lees, Jonty and Tate Research Centre
(2019), Is it Risky Showing Frisky?, In: Global Communities: Curating Modern Art Today, 26 -27 April 2019, Tate St Ives
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Lees, Jonty, Pool Academy and Cornwall Council
(2018), Pool School Gallery, Pool, Cornwall -
Lees, Jonty
(2018), Woodlane Windows, In: Woodlane Windows, 2018, Woodlane, Falmouth, Cornwall UK -
Lees, Jonty
(2017), Zennor Project Space, Zennor, Cornwall, UK
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Lees, Jonty and Zennor Project Space
(2017), Zennor Project Space Beekeeping, hypnosis and the internet. CAST Café Friday 30 June, CAST, Helston -
Lees, Jonty, Kestle Barton and The Cornubian Arts & Science Trust (CAST)
(2011), The Cornwall Workshop, Kestle Barton
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Lees, Jonty, Hayward Touring, Focal Point Gallery and Southend-on-Sea Borough Council
(2011), Outrageous Fortune Tarot Deck, Slimvolume, LONDON, ISBN: 978-1-907185-02-1
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Lees, Jonty and Get It Together Recording Studio
(2003), Spiral Drawing, N/A
Externally funded research grants information
| Collaborators | Currency | Funder | HESA Category | Project title | Value | Year ending | Year starting |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Supported creative heritage engagement with young people through Pool School Gallery. |
English Heritage: Shout Out Loud / Reverberate programme | ||||||
| A collaborative schools project with Pool School Gallery / Falmouth University. |
Royal Society of Chemistry Outreach Fund | Expressive Explosions | 2023 | 2023 | |||
| I secured and managed this commission, including artist selection, project delivery, and budget oversight. |
University of Exeter | Camborne School of Mines Public Art Commission | 2024 | 2024 | |||
| 24-month programme supporting two funded artist residencies. I led the successful bid and oversee the fellowship as Programme Lead. |
Freelands Studio Fellowship, Falmouth University | 2025 | |||||
| Pool Academy, Royal Cornwall Museum, Cornwall Council | GBP | Heritage Lottery Fund | 2 UK-based charities - Open competitive process | The Cornwall Council Schools Art Collection at Pool School Gallery | 45400 | 2020 | 2018 |
| GBP | Arts Council England | 2 UK-based charities - Open competitive process | Zennor Projects 2017/2018 | 12750 | 2018 | 2017 | |
| GBP | Arts Council England | 2 UK-based charities - Open competitive process | Zennor Project | 15000 | 2017 | 2016 | |
| Tate Liverpool | GBP | AHRC Collaborative Doctoral Partnership (CDP) | 1 DIUS Research Councils | Can We Create a Creative Community? | 45000 | 2017 | 2015 |
| European Centre for Environment European Centre for Environment and Human Health University of Exeter Medical School | GBP | Leverhulme Trust | 2 UK-based charities - Open competitive process | Artist in Residence | 12500 | 2013 | 2013 |
| GBP | AHRC | 1 DIUS Research Councils | Professional Preparation Masters Scheme | 2005 | 2004 | ||
| GBP | Arts Council England | 2 UK-based charities - Open competitive process | Pool School Gallery CIC Contemporary Artist Programme 2019/2020 | 13995 | 2020 | 2019 |
Teaching
Areas of teaching
- Fine Art
Courses taught
- Fine Art BA(Hons)
Policy engagement within Cornwall
Engagement with organisations which contribute to the development of educational, cultural or socio-economic policies in Cornwall
- Co-Director, Falmouth Painting Platform, 2024–present
- Programme Lead, Freelands Studio Fellowship, Falmouth University, 2024–present
- Project Lead, Gwithian Chapel Artist Residency Programme, 2024–present
- Strategic Lead, Goldfish Bowl Gallery (Falmouth University), launching 2025
- School Governor, St Ives Junior School, 2023–present
- External Examiner, Access to HE Art & Design, Cornwall College (Camborne), 2024–present
- Board Member, Borlase Smart John Wells Trust, 2023–present
- Project Lead, Camborne School of Mines Public Art Commission (University of Exeter / Falmouth University), 2024
- Collaborator, English Heritage (Shout Out Loud / Reverberate), 2021–present
- Partner, Pool Academy, 2018–2024 (ended with Pool School Gallery)
- Director, Pool School Gallery CIC, 2018–2024 (concluded)
- Partner, Cornwall Council Culture Team, Royal Cornwall Museum, and Cornwall Museums Partnership, 2018–2024 (concluded with Pool School Gallery)
- Partner, Camborne, Pool, Illogan and Redruth Community Network, 2018–2024 (concluded)
- Trustee, Newlyn Art Gallery & The Exchange, 2015–2018
- Resident Artist, Tate St Ives, 2007–08; Artist Programme, 2014
- Artist in Residence, European Centre for Environment and Human Health, University of Exeter Medical School, 2013
Business Engagement
Business start ups
Previously Director of Pool School Gallery CIC (2018–2024), a not-for-profit organisation supporting artist-led education, residencies, and public engagement.
Business engagement case studies
Freelands Studio Fellowship (2024–26): I led the successful bid to host two 12-month artist residencies, funded by Freelands Foundation. The programme supports mid-career artists and provides mentoring, studio access, and public engagement opportunities.
Camborne School of Mines Public Art Commission (2024): I secured external funding from the University of Exeter and led the commissioning and delivery of a public artwork by David Paton. The project involved budget management, artist selection, and coordination between institutions.
Goldfish Bowl Gallery (2025–): I am strategic lead on a new public gallery within the School of Art. The space will host exhibitions by students and external artists, creating new opportunities for engagement with industry and community partners.
Gwithian Chapel Residency (2024–): I initiated and currently lead a place-based artist residency programme connecting artistic research with rural heritage and local stakeholders.
Consultancy and facility services
- Oversight of studio-based artist residency delivery through the Freelands Studio Fellowship.
- Project consultation with Camborne School of Mines and University of Exeter for public art commissioning.
Professional Engagement
Social, community and cultural engagement
- Strategic Lead for Goldfish Bowl Gallery (launching 2025), developing a new on-campus public gallery space for student and community exhibitions.
- Ongoing collaborator with English Heritage on youth and culture-led engagement through the Shout Out Loud / Reverberate programme.
- Co-Director of Falmouth Painting Platform, which delivers public talks and exhibitions in partnership with local and national painting communities.
Engagement with professional associations and societies
- Currently not a member of a formal professional association but engaged in sector-wide collaboration through the Freelands Foundation Fellowship network (2024–26), involving eight UK HEIs.
- Past involvement with Tate St Ives Artist Programme and Newlyn Art Gallery board (2015–2018).
Professional esteem indicators
| Year | Description |
|---|---|
| 2024 | Programme Lead, Freelands Studio Fellowship, Falmouth University (2024–26) — selected as one of eight UK institutions by Freelands Foundation. |
| 2024 | Lead on Camborne School of Mines Public Art Commission (2024), appointed by University of Exeter. |
| 2022 | Appointed External Examiner, Access to HE Art & Design, Cornwall College Camborne (2022–present). |
| 2023 | Appointed School Governor, St Ives Junior School (2023–present). |
