NN Contemporary Art, in partnership with the University of Northampton, is pleased to announce the return of the Professional Development Residency Awards.
This initiative supports graduate artists by providing time, space, and tailored professional development to help build sustainable creative careers. The programme focuses on skills development, employability, and regional growth, strengthening networks within Northampton’s cultural landscape.
The PDRA reflects a shared commitment to creative research, community engagement, and making Northampton a dynamic place to live, study, and work in the arts.
This year we are excited to welcome three talented emerging artists; Gina Barnes, Jessica Langdon and Charlotte Rentell.
Gina Barnes is a recent BA (Hons) Illustration graduate from the University of Northampton whose practice centres on symbolism and the uncanny, often exploring human-animal relationships through surreal imagery. She has exhibited internationally and been featured by platforms such as Beautiful Bizarre, but is now looking to connect more directly with local audiences. She hopes that her residency at NN Contemporary will offer critical feedback, and the chance to explore public interaction with her work – particularly through live painting and dialogue within the gallery space. As she begins an MA in Fine Art: Painting at Camberwell, Gina hopes to utilise this residency to consider he work within a Fine Art context. Gina’s residency will be taking place from the 3rd September to the 17th September.
Jessica Langdon is a recent graduate of the University of Northampton whose practice explores the transformation of natural forms through distortion, abstraction, and layering. Inspired by organic patterns—such as eroded rocks, skeletal leaves, and cracked earth—they manipulate textures and structures until they hover between the familiar and the alien. Working primarily in monochrome with inks, charcoal, and printmaking, their work investigates the tension between order and entropy, permanence and transience, inviting viewers to reflect on the instability and fluidity of the natural world. Jessica is excited to see her work in a new context and begin to realise some new pieces. She hopes to use the time and space to branch out of her usual process of lithographic printmaking to develop large-scale ink drawings. Jessica Langdon’s residency will be from the 18th September to the 1st October.
Charlotte Rentell is a recent Fine Art: Painting and Drawing graduate from the University of Northampton. Charlotte’s practice explores sensory overstimulation and its calming effects, particularly through live music and light. As someone with ASD, they use painting to create a sense of tranquillity, layering digital imagery with gestural overpainting on smooth, high-gloss surfaces. Influenced by artists like Katharina Grosse and David Reed, their work combines physical mark-making with digital aesthetics, creating immersive, light-filled compositions that evoke screen-based imagery and movement. Charlotte recently exhibited their work at NN Nights and has been part of the NN Associates Programme. Through the residency, they hope to continue building their connection with NNCA, receive critical feedback, and develop collaborative opportunities that bring together visual art, sound, and lived experience. Charlotte Rentell’s residency will be spanning from the 15th October to the 29th October.
NN Contemporary Art is supported by
