Northampton Saints are delighted to announce the appointment of acclaimed contemporary artist Rebecca Ivatts as the Club’s Artist in Residence for the 2026/27 season, in collaboration with Northampton Saints Foundation.
Rebecca specialises in the human figure and movement, and has worked on a range of projects across sport – including with Chelsea FC, West Bromwich Albion FC and Silverstone.
Throughout the season, Rebecca will spend time immersed in life at Franklin’s Gardens, capturing the people, moments and stories that make Northampton Saints unique. From players and coaches to supporters, volunteers and staff, her residency will provide a fresh artistic perspective on the Club and its wider community.
Supporters will have the opportunity to follow Rebecca’s journey across the season, with the artist regularly present at the stadium sketching and painting, allowing fans to see her work develop first-hand.
The collection created during the residency will culminate in a special exhibition and showcase event in 2027, with proceeds helping to support the work of Northampton Saints Foundation.
“We are delighted to welcome Rebecca to Northampton Saints as our Artist in Residence for the 2026/27 season,” said the Club’s Chief Executive, Julia Chapman.
“We know our supporters will enjoy following Rebecca’s journey throughout the year, from her first sketches and studies through to the finished collection, and we’re looking forward to sharing that process with them.
“The residency will also support the fantastic work of Northampton Saints Foundation through fundraising and community engagement, making this a relationship that will benefit both the Club and the wider community we serve.”
Rebecca’s work is recognised for its expressive portrayal of movement, emotion and human connection.
Alongside her sporting projects, she has developed a reputation for exploring themes of anatomy, neuroscience and the human experience through painting – with her work exhibited and collected internationally.
“Rugby is a gift for an artist,” said Ivatts. “The game is full of movement, intensity and emotion – muscles under tension, bodies twisting through space, moments of contact and connection – and I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to explore its variety and visual poetry as Northampton Saints’ Artist in Residence.
“My work sits between drawing and painting, and throughout the residency I’ll be creating a wide range of pieces, from small studies and prints through to large-scale canvases.
“I’ve also been hugely inspired by the work of Northampton Saints Foundation and am looking forward to supporting it wherever I can, whether that’s helping to raise funds through my artwork or running workshops with the young people and communities the Foundation works with.
“I can’t wait to get started and share the journey with Saints supporters throughout the season.”
Click the Gallery above to view a selection of Rebecca’s work
Matthew Robinson, Head of Fundraising at Northampton Saints Foundation, added: “We are absolutely delighted to welcome Rebecca as our Artist in Residence for the 2026/27 season. From our very first conversations, it was clear that she shared our belief in the power of storytelling and community, and we are incredibly excited about what we can create together over the coming year.
“This residency is about much more than producing artwork. It is an opportunity to celebrate the people who make Northampton Saints such a special club, while also raising valuable funds that will help Northampton Saints Foundation continue changing lives across our region.
“We are committed to making the collection accessible to as many people as possible, and we hope supporters will enjoy following Rebecca’s journey throughout the season before joining us for what promises to be a very special exhibition at the end of the project.”
Further details about Rebecca’s residency, including opportunities to view and purchase artwork, will be announced throughout the 2026/27 season. You can follow her journey on Instagram HERE.
Original pieces, limited-edition prints and exclusive fundraising works created for Northampton Saints Foundation and the Club will all form part of the project.