ARTIST STATEMENT:
“Things are produced around us, but no one knows the whence. They issue forth, but no one sees the portal.” Chuang-tzu
My artistic practice is deeply inspired by the natural world, this is explored through a cross-disciplinary practice of drawing, sculpture and installation.
Originally from the UK I now live and work as an artist in Australia. Since moving to this ancient land I have become extremely drawn to the native seed pods of Australia, and they have become a central theme in my work. Not only do they house and protect the multitude of new life, they become totemic symbols of nature’s continuous renewal and growth. Our natural world is an endless flow of life coming into form, moving through form and leaving form.
Moving beyond traditional and scientific botanical studies my work transcends the everyday/mundane natural objects that we find scattering the land, and re-awakens a fascination with our natural world. When we become aware and mindful of our environment we see that what has always seemed so natural reveals how wondrously supernatural it really is. My practice invites the viewer to engage in a deeper appreciation of these natural forms, and to see that they incorporate the same intrinsic laws that govern all life in the Universe.
Through a process of magnification, abstraction and alteration of the native pods, I am inviting the viewer to engage in a deeper contemplation of these organic forms and see the hidden fractal order present within all life. Both my sculptural and two-dimensional practice are investigations into the timeless and formless intelligence within nature, the ghost in the machine. No matter what is removed there will always be another layer of complexity waiting to be revealed.
ARTIST CV:
Born
1986 Cotswolds, UK
Education
2005-08 BA (Hons) Fine Art: Sculpture Cardiff School of Art & Design, UK
2004-05 Foundation Diploma in Art & Design, Stroud College, UK
Solo Exhibitions
2019 Meteorites from Earth, FortyFiveDownstairs, Melbourne, Australia
2019 Below the Surface, Yering Station Gallery, Yarra Valley, Australia
2017 Works in progress, OTR Gallery, Grampians, Australia
2017 Nothing Lost, West End Art Space Gallery, Melbourne, Australia
2017 Pathways, St.Michael's Gallery, Melbourne, Australia
2017 Musings of a Journey Man, Yering Station Gallery, Australia
2017 Form-Formless, Tacit Contemporary Art Gallery, Melbourne, Australia
2016 Trinity, Stroud house Gallery, UK
Exhibitions
2019 Arts Trail 2019, Geelong, Australia
2019 The Other Art Fair 2019, Sydney, Australia
2019 Botanical, Brunswick Street Gallery, Melbourne, Australia
2019 Finalist - Perry Drawing Prize 2019, Adelaide Perry Gallery, Sydney, Australia
2019 Toorak Sculpture exhibition, Melbourne, Australia
2019 Adaptation, Gasworks Art show, Australia
2018 Finalist - Sculpture Award 2018, Yering Station/Yarra Valley, Australia
2018 Albert Park Art Show 2018, Australia
2018 Inhabitants, Gasworks Art show, Australia
2018 Finalist - Paul Guest Drawing prize 2018, Bendigo Art Gallery, Australia
2018 The Other Art Fair 2018, Melbourne, Australia
2018 Untitled, Traffic Jam Gallery, NSW, Australia
2018 Finalist - Scenic World Sculpture Award 2018, NSW, Australia
2018 Finalist - Bonanza 2018, Yarra Sculpture Gallery, Australia
2017 Sculpture Award 2017, Yering Station/Yarra Valley, Australia
2017 Finalist - Sculpture Award 2017, Yering Station/Yarra Valley, Australia
2017 Behind the Scenes, Gasworks art park Gallery, Melbourne, Australia
2017 Finalist - Bonanza 2017, Yarra Sculpture Gallery, Australia
2017 The Other Art Fair 2017, Melbourne, Australia
2016 Finalist - Australia Wild, Sherbrooke Gallery, Melbourne, Australia
2016 Albert Park Art Show 2016, Australia
2016 The Sacred, Aberglasney House Gallery, Wales
Awards
2019 Winner of the ‘Traders Prize’ Award, Toorak Sculpture exhibition, Melbourne, Australia
2018 Winner of the Judges Prize Award, From Nature, Gasworks Art Park, Melbourne, Australia
2018 Winner of the Acquisition Award ‘Best in Show’, APC Art Show, Melbourne, Australia
2018 Highly Commended Award, Scenic World Sculpture Exhibition, Blue Mountains, Australia
2017 Winner of Contemporary Sculptor's Association Award, Bonanza, Yarra Sculpture Gallery, Australia
2016 Highly Commended Traditional Botanical, Australia wild, Sherbrooke Gallery, Australia
Artist Residency
2017 ‘Off the Rails’ artist in residence (three weeks), Dunkeld, Australia
Employment
2008-14 Production Manager and collaborating artist at Tom Price Studios, UK
Press
2019 Artist interview on Joy Radio (August 2019), Australia
2019 Artist interview on J-Radio (August 2019), Australia
2019 Art/Edit Magazine, Artist feature (March/May issue), Australia
2019 Artist interview on Yarra Valley Radio (January 2019), Australia
2018 ‘From the Curator’ Victoria Kennedy, Saatchi Art (August 2018), Australia
2018 Sydney Arts Guide (March 2018), Australia
2017 ABC South West Radio, Interview with Emily Bissland
2017 ArtsHub online Article
2016 Art Reveal Magazine, UK
2016 Sacred Art, BBC online, UK
