Kate Jones

Kate Jones will be co-leading our Mentoring Programme with Jesse Leroy Smith. She brings over a decade of experience managing and curating exhibitions as the founder of Daisy Laing Gallery in Penzance, and more recently through projects in Cornwall and across the UK, including London, Bristol, Manchester, and Plymouth. Her practice consistently champions both emerging and established artists, with a curatorial approach that values meaningful engagement and inclusivity over purely commercial considerations.

In 2023, Daisy Laing evolved into Daisy Laing Studios, expanding its reach by developing exhibitions in new venues and contexts. Current projects include managing Wharfside Art Hub in Penzance and an ongoing series of curated shows at Chapel House, a Penzance boutique hotel. These initiatives reflect Kate’s adaptability in presenting art within diverse environments, always emphasising dialogue, connection, and place.

Kate’s professional background in television production, including work with the BBC, Channel 4 and ITV, underpins her practice with strong organisational and storytelling skills. This foundation translates into exhibitions that are meticulously produced and conceptually engaging, offering artists and audiences alike a clear narrative framework.

As a mentor, Kate draws on her experience to demystify the workings of the art market for students and emerging practitioners. She provides practical insight into exhibition-making, audience development, and professional sustainability, while encouraging artists to remain authentic to their vision.

She has supported and exhibited an array of our Mentoring alumni and she will be leading our 'Think Tank’ Project, as part of the Mentoring Programme. (each student being guided to plan a project/show with a venue, audience, budget, etc in mind, so that it is on the horizon for them after our programme.)