Ray Jacobs is a UK based artist who uses the mediums of image, film and movement to highlight the beauty, power and presence in the narratives that surround us.

Ray works as a director and facilitator, creating imaginative and powerful works with a wide variety of companies, performers and participatory groups in particular collaborating with disabled artists.

He states. ‘I aim in my work to create movement and image which steps quietly into the human heart’.

Recent multi award winning short films include ‘The Sea Reminds Me’ , ‘Bastion’ and Four Solos in the Wild and Your Rocky Spine. He is currently developing a new film based installation based on a collection of stories from American Sci Fi author Jeff Vandermeer.

Ray is currently co director of Shropshire inclusive Dance and performance director of Arty Party a charity based in Telford focused on supporting learning disabled artists share work with the public.

Artworks
Coming to our Senses (2010)
A multi-layered digital work of people’s hands presented on various screens in a café environment. The aim was to create a harmonious art intervention with simple yet beautiful images of hands at rest, in conversation or on their own, echoing the day-to-day actions of people within the café.

The Remembrance Path – collaboration with environmental artist Wren Miller (2011)
The project was an exploration of arts and the grieving process
‘Whilst researching Charles Darwin, it occurred to us that loss and bereavement were a huge influence on his life, both as a young boy who lost his mother and as a parent who suffered the grief of losing a child. A daily contemplative walk open to the public (including the sharing of memories through conversation, writing and artwork) around the old town walls of Shrewsbury, environmental art workshops for bereaved children, and the creation of a public art piece, ‘The Remembrance Labyrinth’, made of 7000 used books, walked through lightly, thoughtfully, contemplatively and playfully at the Quarry in Shrewsbury.

Filmography
I Saw a Girl (2008) – Director
Awarded Best Overall Film – Oska Bright Film Festival 2008

The Sea Reminds Me (2012) – Director
Awarded Best Film – Ablevision Ireland
Judges Merit Award – Focus Film Festival
Nominated Finalist - Oska Bright Film Festival.
Awarded Best Film – Sit Down Shut Up and Watch Film Festival, Adelaide, Australia.
Sensibility Award – Assim Vivemos Brazil Disability Film Festival
Audience Award – Premio Cinematografico Fausto Rossano

Bastion (2014) – Director (www.bastionfilm.com)
Best Film – Meeting Rimini Film Festival, Italy 2014
Finalist and 2nd Prize Winner – Cinema Touching Disability, Texas, USA 2014
Best Male Actor (James Doolan) – 7th International Breaking Down Barriers Film Festival, Moscow 2014
Honourable Mention – Picture This Film Festival, Calgary, Canada 2015
Best Story Award – Oska Bright Film Festival, UK 2015
Best in the Fest – Super Fest – California, USA 2015
Short Fiction 2nd Prize – Festival Inclus, Barcelona, Spain 2015
First Prize – The Malta Mental Health Short Film Festival – DIGNITY 2016
Grand Prix Du Jury – Entre ‘2 Marches, Cannes Film Festival 2016
Best Film - Cinque Terre Film Festival , Italy 2018

Four Solos in the Wild (2016) Director (www.solointhewild.com)
Best Film MITS Dance Film Festival Barcelona, Spain
Creativity Award Fiver dance screen festival, Spain
Best Choreography – Oska Bright Film Festival
Best Dance Film – SDSUMF Festival Australia

My Rocky Spine 2019
Honorable mention - Picture This Film Festival Calgary, Canada.

One man show incorporating – Bastion, The Sea Reminds Me, Four Solos in the Wild, Tate Modern, London, March 2017.

Outstanding contribution to Cinema Award - Oska Bright Film Festival

Ray Jacobs is currently co director of Shropshire Inclusive Dance and Performance director at Arty Party in Telford.