Jemma Appleby
Jemma Appleby is a contemporary artist whose work explores architectural spaces and human environments. She is particularly renowned for her monochromatic charcoal drawings which - rendered with almost photographic precision - are characterised by minimalist forms, and sharp contrast between darkness and light.
Jemma works from life, as well as photographs and architectural plans - which allow her to model buildings that she cannot visit in person to explore particular perspectives and angles. Creating a sense of intrigue is key within her practice - the viewer might feel as though they are floating above or below a landscape, taking the drawing beyond pure geometry. She says; ‘what I’m really fascinated by, is the idea of not fully being able to understand what a space is - could it be water, or glass, or something solid?'.
Jemma graduated from City and Guilds of London Art School in 2009. Her works have been showcased widely in the UK, France, Italy, Spain and Colombia. Selected exhibitions include regular inclusion in the Summer Exhibition at Royal Academy of Arts, London, and the RWA Annual Open Exhibition, Bristol, the Jerwood Drawing Prize, London, in 2014, ‘Architecture As Metaphor’ alongside the late Phyllida Barlow and Rachel Whiteread at the Griffin Gallery, in 2017, and LA.CU.NA at LAMB Arts, London, in 2016. Her drawings are featured in notable public collections including the Royal Academy of Engineering and she has been the recipient of several awards including the 2025 Lyon & Turnbull Award presented at The Royal Scottish Academy, Edinburgh.
In 2025, Jemma was elected as a Royal West of England Academician. She is also an elected member of The London Group and a founding member of artist-run curatorial group The Arborealists. Jemma is based in south east London.
We showed new work by Jemma in our January 2026 group exhibition Music From Out There. Contact us to enquire.
Shop works by Jemma
Charcoal on paper, 30 × 30cm
Jemma Appleby is a contemporary artist whose work explores architectural spaces and human environments. She is particularly renowned for her monochromatic charcoal drawings which - rendered with almost photographic precision - are characterised by minimalist forms, and sharp contrast between darkness and light.
Jemma works from life, as well as photographs and architectural plans - which allow her to model buildings that she cannot visit in person to explore particular perspectives and angles. Creating a sense of intrigue is key within her practice - the viewer might feel as though they are floating above or below a landscape, taking the drawing beyond pure geometry. She says; ‘what I’m really fascinated by, is the idea of not fully being able to understand what a space is - could it be water, or glass, or something solid?'.
This framed drawing, made by hand from ground charcoal powder, is part of our 2026 group exhibition ‘Music From Out There’ (16 January - 14 February 2026). It is one of a pair of small-scale minimalist drawings by the artist which suggest portals which capture crisp crescents of light.
Jemma graduated from City and Guilds of London Art School in 2009. Her works have been showcased widely in the UK, France, Italy, Spain and Colombia. Her drawings are featured in notable public collections including the Royal Academy of Engineering and she has been the recipient of several awards including the 2025 Lyon & Turnbull Award presented at The Royal Scottish Academy, Edinburgh.
In 2025, Jemma was elected as a Royal West of England Academician. She is also an elected member of The London Group and a founding member of artist-run curatorial group The Arborealists. Jemma is based in south east London.
Charcoal on paper, 50 × 50cm
Jemma Appleby is a contemporary artist whose work explores architectural spaces and human environments. She is particularly renowned for her monochromatic charcoal drawings which - rendered with almost photographic precision - are characterised by minimalist forms, and sharp contrast between darkness and light.
Jemma works from life, as well as photographs and architectural plans - which allow her to model buildings that she cannot visit in person to explore particular perspectives and angles. Creating a sense of intrigue is key within her practice - the viewer might feel as though they are floating above or below a landscape, taking the drawing beyond pure geometry. She says; ‘what I’m really fascinated by, is the idea of not fully being able to understand what a space is - could it be water, or glass, or something solid?'.
This framed drawing, made by hand from ground charcoal powder, is part of our 2026 group exhibition ‘Music From Out There’ (16 January - 14 February 2026). Originally inspired by what the artist describes as a ‘concept lamp’, the image evokes planetary forms, with subtle reflections depicted in super-fine detail.
Jemma graduated from City and Guilds of London Art School in 2009. Her works have been showcased widely in the UK, France, Italy, Spain and Colombia. Her drawings are featured in notable public collections including the Royal Academy of Engineering and she has been the recipient of several awards including the 2025 Lyon & Turnbull Award presented at The Royal Scottish Academy, Edinburgh.
In 2025, Jemma was elected as a Royal West of England Academician. She is also an elected member of The London Group and a founding member of artist-run curatorial group The Arborealists. Jemma is based in south east London.
Charcoal on paper, 30 × 30cm
Jemma Appleby is a contemporary artist whose work explores architectural spaces and human environments. She is particularly renowned for her monochromatic charcoal drawings which - rendered with almost photographic precision - are characterised by minimalist forms, and sharp contrast between darkness and light.
Jemma works from life, as well as photographs and architectural plans - which allow her to model buildings that she cannot visit in person to explore particular perspectives and angles. Creating a sense of intrigue is key within her practice - the viewer might feel as though they are floating above or below a landscape, taking the drawing beyond pure geometry. She says; ‘what I’m really fascinated by, is the idea of not fully being able to understand what a space is - could it be water, or glass, or something solid?'.
This framed drawing, made by hand from ground charcoal powder, is part of our 2026 group exhibition ‘Music From Out There’ (16 January - 14 February 2026). It is one of a pair of small-scale minimalist drawings by the artist which suggest portals which capture crisp crescents of light.
Jemma graduated from City and Guilds of London Art School in 2009. Her works have been showcased widely in the UK, France, Italy, Spain and Colombia. Her drawings are featured in notable public collections including the Royal Academy of Engineering and she has been the recipient of several awards including the 2025 Lyon & Turnbull Award presented at The Royal Scottish Academy, Edinburgh.
In 2025, Jemma was elected as a Royal West of England Academician. She is also an elected member of The London Group and a founding member of artist-run curatorial group The Arborealists. Jemma is based in south east London.