Artist statement
Concepts, themes and ways of working
Rachel Gibson’s paintings, prints and artists books reflect an intuitive involvement with imagery and ideas that are central to the notion of memory and sense of place. Inspiration comes from sources which can be loosely described as historical, geographic and poetic.
The ancient landscape of the North Pennine Fells combined with memories of ancient sites visited on worldwide travels form a basis for visual development. Recently the more intimate space of a garden, a wild garden, has encouraged enquiry about fragility, vulnerability, growth and loss.
Drawing plays an important part in the making of all her work. The exploration of how marks construct layers upon a surface, effectively enacting their own independent histories. This is a process of casting out and retrieving, of finding and then losing, like thought processes, like memories.
Rachel works with different drawing, printmaking and painting media and techniques, often combining them together to create imagery which is both subtle and mysterious.
Current and forthcoming events
- September 2013: Drawing Open Exibition Award, One Church Street Gallery, Great Missenden (more info)
Qualifications and training
- 2005 MA Fine Art & Education, University of Northumbria, Newcastle upon Tyne
- 1972 BA Hons Fine Art, University of Northumbria, Newcastle upon Tyne
Solo exhibitions
- 2002 Catching the Shadow, Caedmon Gallery, Gateshead Library, Gateshead, Tyne and Wear
- 2002 Recent Work, Theatre by the Lake, Keswick, Cumbria
- 1996 Castlegate Gallery, Cumbria
Group exhibitions
- 2012 Drawing Open 2012, Exhibition Award, One Church Street Gallery, Great Missenden
- 2011 Open Up North, Brewery Arts Centre, Kendal, Cumbria
- 2009 The Lake Artists Summer Show, Grasmere, Cumbria : Exhibition Prize
- 2008 Exhibition 3, The Red Barn, Melkinthorpe, Cumbria
- 2007 Glasgow Contemporary Art Fair, Glasgow, George Square
- 2007 Selected group exhibition, Gallery North, University of Northumbria, Newcastle upon Tyne
- 2006 Landmarks 111, Lowood Art Gallery, Cumbria (more info)
- 2003 Real Art Retrospective, The Beacon, Whitehaven, Cumbria
- 2001 Printmaking revisited, Hexham, Northumberland
- 1999 Books by Artists, University of West England, Bristol
- 1997 Land, an artists book, touring exhibition
- 1996 Cumbria 96, Year of Visual Arts, Euston Station
- 1996 Northern Print at the Halton, Newcastle upon Tyne
Workshops
- 2008 Drawing from experience, Tullie House Museum & Art Gallery, Carlisle, Cumbria
- 2006 Arts and Minds - Conference on Arts and Cultural Entitlement, Low Wood Hotel, Windermere, Cumbria (more info)
- 2005 Performance & Drawing, University of Northumbria - PGCE, Newcastle upon Tyne
Residencies
- 2008 Drawing from experience ( in association with Nature Paintings by Keith Tyson), Tullie House Museum & Art Gallery, Carlisle, Cumbria
- 2000 Andy Goldsworthy Sheepfolds, Education Project, Bewcastle School, Cumbria
- 1994 Sainsbury's Outreach Drawing Workshop, St. Cuthbert's School, Newcastle upon Tyne
- 1993 Openshaw Printmaking Residency, Lowick House Print Workshop, Cumbria
Competitions, prizes and awards
- 2012 Drawing Open 2012, Exhibition Award, One Church Street Gallery, Great Missenden
- 2009 Kent valley printers Award for best work on paper, Lake Artists Society summer show, Grasmere, Cumbria
- 2006 Landmarks 111 Exhibition prize, Lowood Art Gallery, Cumbria
- 1996 Cumbria Visual Arts & Crafts Award, Cumbria
Educational experience - tertiary
- 2002 Visiting Lecturer - Illustration, University of Central Lancashire, Preston
- 2000 Lecturer - Illustration, Graphics, Visual Communication, University of Cumbria, Brampton Rd Campus, Carlisle, Cumbria
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Web links - article/press
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