Not sure if it’s normal for an artist to have the fear of not being able to create anymore.
Normal or not, this 93 year old artist is not considering age as a limitation to creative expressions.
Hoarding installation, Blackfriars Rd Almshouses. Jenny Adams / Tenderground / Southwark Charities / JTRE London
At 93 years old, Jenny Adams has spent a lifetime immersed in the world of art. From her beginnings in Nairobi, Kenya, to her formal training at Central Art School in Holborn, and her career as a commercial artist, illustrator, and designer for John Lewis, her journey is itself a beautiful masterpiece that celebrates longevity in creativity. Now, as a resident of Hopton’s Almshouse in Southwark, she has taken on a new challenge: transforming her old sketchbooks into a large-scale public artwork.
Jenny Adams’ hoarding installation in Blackfriars Road (Picture: Tenderground/Southwark Charities)
As part of Tenderground and Southwark Charities’ art program, Adams was commissioned to create site-specific artwork for the hoardings in Blackfriars Road and Nicholson Street. These hoardings, which surround the redevelopment site of Edward Edwards House, now showcase her enlarged drawings, offering a glimpse into her daily life and the beauty she finds in the mundane.
Jenny Adams’ artwork is a collection of detailed drawings that document the often-overlooked aspects of her life at Edward Edwards House. Collaborating with graphic designer Charlie Noon, Adams has turned sketches of decaying fruit, roadworks outside her window, and flowers picked by neighbors into a visual narrative that captures the essence of her experiences. Each drawing is a testament to her belief that “everything is a beauty,” a philosophy that has guided her through decades of artistic exploration.
Hoarding installation, Blackfriars Rd Almshouses. Jenny Adams / Tenderground / Southwark Charities / JTRE London
“My first experience with art was a jumble of nothingness,” Adams recalls. “Then the colors hit me in my eyes. Now I get the joy of smelling, touching, and tasting through art. Everything is a beauty. Art has been and still is my life.”
This commission is not only a celebration of Adams’ talent but also marks a significant moment in the history of Edward Edwards House. The almshouse, which has been a fixture in Southwark since 1752, is undergoing redevelopment in partnership with developers JTRE London. The new almshouse and office building will continue to provide low-cost community housing for the elderly, maintaining a tradition of support and community that has lasted for over 250 years.
Laura Wilson and Clare Cumberlidge, directors of Tenderground, are thrilled to launch the program with Adams’ work. “We are lucky to have an artist as inspirational as Jenny Adams amongst the residents,” Wilson says. “We are proud to deliver a program of world-class art to Southwark.”
Caroline Croft, Chairwoman of Trustees at Southwark Charities, echoes this sentiment. “I am delighted that our charity has embarked upon an art strategy that is so ambitious and creative. Tenderground is already showing that high-quality art can make a positive difference to the lives of our beneficiaries and the wider community. I’m so excited by the program and what is to come.”
As Adams continues to sketch every day, her latest project serves as a powerful reminder of the vitality and resilience that art can bring to our lives. Her drawings, now displayed for all to see, encapsulate a life dedicated to finding beauty in the everyday. For Jenny Adams, this commission is more than just a public display; it’s a culmination of a lifetime’s passion for art, a journey that continues to inspire and enrich the community around her.
