I am an artist/drawer who makes drawings in graphite on paper, large format digital images and/or video works. My work is about line and the accumulation of hand-drawn or computer-generated line. Line is forged through pencil, pixel, polygon, vertex and spline in a process of simultaneous observation, fabrication and manipulation in both physical and virtual space. Line evolves into polygonal form in the 3-dimensional computing world and then emerges as a form of skin/membrane/field or scape in the 2-dimensional world. Line, as singular or composited, evolves into 3-dimensional object/place and ultimately emerges as 2-dimensional substance. The initial impact on both maker and viewer is one of surprise that such objects and/or places are possible.
I am an artist/drawer who makes drawings in graphite on paper, large format digital images and/or video works. My work is about line and the accumulation of hand-drawn or computer-generated line. Line is forged through pencil, pixel, polygon, vertex and spline in a process of simultaneous observation, fabrication and manipulation in both physical and virtual space. Line evolves into polygonal form in the 3-dimensional computing world and then emerges as a form of skin/membrane/field or scape in the 2-dimensional world. Line, as singular or composited, evolves into 3-dimensional object/place and ultimately emerges as 2-dimensional substance. The initial impact on both maker and viewer is one of surprise that such objects and/or places are possible.
Experience and knowledge derived from previous drawing practice in the material world informs my thinking and working procedures. Decisions regarding what to do and what to do next are governed by my experience as a drawer. My projections or conjectures with regard to the intangible stem from an awareness of the tangible and those of the invisible from an awareness of the visible and vice versa. I visually think through drawing. Drawing accommodates the coupling of the intuitive and the accidental with my rational and strategic behaviours. Drawing for me, might be summed up as what if? I am rethinking the position of the viewer and the viewed. Can I see differently? I am outside looking in - I can imagine the unseen but within the virtual environment I can see from the inside - out. I can move around, by means of a virtual camera, within virtual space. The virtual camera becomes my eye. I can use the computer to do something, which it can do and I cannot, which I can propose and it can provide, which I cannot see - until I can.
Angela Eames is a drawer who was born in Malmesbury, England in 1951. Eames studied at Bath Academy (BA Honours), The Slade School of Art (MA Fine Art), Centre for Computer Aided Art & Design at Middlesex University (MA Computing in Design and Programming) and Wimbledon School of Art affiliated to the University of Surrey (PhD). She has exhibited her work both nationally and internationally. Eames visual practice utilises all drawing media from autographic procedures, through computing (two and three-dimensionally) and moving image. Eames academic involvement included the initiation and direction of both the BA Honours in Drawing (the first such course in the UK) and the MA in Drawing at Camberwell College of Arts (University of the Arts, London). As a Research Fellow (attached to the Information and Technology Research Development Unit at the London Institute) she was Content Co-ordinator for the ground-breaking, BAFTA nominated and BIMA awarded DVD, entitled ‘Seeing Drawing’, a project which involved five major university partners across the UK, which launched in 2001. She was also responsible for the instigation of online learning via Blackboard at Camberwell in 1998. Eames has extended her teaching practice by taking drawing and creative thinking direct to the coalface, working for Framestore - CFC, where she challenged their animation team in a series of forums and life-drawing sessions around critical animation topics.
Exhibitions include...
In the Dark 3 - Being There at The Cello Factory, London, January 2021, forthcoming
In Plain Sight: The London Group, Thelma Hulbert and her London Group Friends, Thelma Hulbert Gallery, Devon, 2021, forthcoming
Structured at Gallery 57, Arundel, 2020
Wish You/We Were Here/There - Online exhibition October 2020
Winter Show at Linden Hall Studio, Deal, December 2020
Southwark Park Galleries 36th Annual Open (Online), London 2020. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dM27mj9uWFQ
The London Group Annual, London, October, 2020
Electric Artefacts + Lumen, Inaugural Exhibition, online gallery, 2020
CADAF online - The Contemporary & Digital Art Fair, exhibiting prints within the Lumen Booth, June 2020
Isolation, online exhibition during Lockdown, The London Group. Curated by Darren Nisbett, May 2020. http://onlinegallery.thelondongroup.com/exhibitions/gallery.php?exhibition=18&wall=4
Reflection Series - Linden Hall Studio, Deal, online exhibition during lockdown, April 2020
The Mass: SYSTEMATISED - online collection of discursive art, articles, opinions, prompts, thoughts, and questions, gathered in response to global issues. February 2020
In the Dark 2020 - Even Darker at The Cello Factory, London, January 2020
Winter Show at Linden Hall Studio, Deal, December 2019
The London Group Open at The Cello Factory, London, November 2019
Digital U Extreme Views Part 2, www.art-gene.co.uk online exhibition, 2019/2020
Marshwoods Arts Awards at the Bridport Arts Centre, (Finalist), November 2019
The Lumen Prize - Director's Showcase 2019, The Cello Factory, Waterloo, London
RE: Bermondsey Artists Group Exhibition, Lake Gallery, London, 2019, Group Show
The London Group Open - The Cello Factory, London, 2019, Group Show
Metamorphosis - The Waterloo Festival, at The Cello Factory, London, 2019, Group Show
Co-curator of Drawing Distinctions - (the return exhibition), The Cello Factory, London, UK, 2019. Group Show
In the Dark - The Cello Factory, London, 2019, Group Show
Drawing Distinctions - Furlong Gallery, Menomonie, Wisconsin, USA, 2018, Group Show
Coastal Currents - Open Studio Morley Farm Barn Studio, 2017/18
S C A P E - Linden Hall Studio Gallery, Deal, 2018, Solo Show
Down from London - Linden Hall Studio Gallery, St Georges St, Deal, 2018. Group Show
The Mesh - Digital work at the Watermans Art Centre, 2017, Group Show
Personal Relations - Travelling Exhibition - Collaborative Shows
Daisyworld - installation at 1DEA5PAC7, London, 2008. Solo Show.
Surfacing - Total Arts Gallery, Dubai, 2008, Solo Show.
Sovereign European Art Prize, selected exhibitor, London, 2007, Group Show.
In and thro’ or somewhere thereabouts - Morley Gallery, London, 2004. Solo Show.
Collaboration with LABAN Dance Centre, Dance piece - Tamasa. Choreographed by Angela Woodhouse. Dance performance held in exhibition space of Eames new digital works, dancers -15, audience-15, and silence.
Small is Beautiful - Flowers East Gallery, London, 1983/90/92/94/96. Group Shows.
Women Light Up the Night - Berlin, Germany, Sponsored by the Kulturamt Mitte, 1994, Group Show.
Kunstbrucke 2 - Galerie Parterre, Prenzlaur Berg, East Berlin, Germany, Three Perso Show. Selected by Sacha Craddock and Darrell Viner, 1993.
With No Opinion - Lanchester Gallery, Coventry University, Coventry, sponsored by Midlands Arts, 1993, Solo Show,
Awards/Residencies…
British Council Award 2008, for solo exhibition Surfacing in Dubai.
UAL College Research Award 2004, for Pixelraiders conference, Sheffield Hallam University.
PhD by Creative Practice 2001, at Wimbledon School of Art (in association with Surrey University) 2001. Thesis - Extending drawing: a creative enquiry into innovatory approaches to drawing as visual thinking and the realisation of material and virtual outcomes.
Artist in Residence 2003, Montmiral School of Painting, Gaillac, France.
College Research Award 1999, for CADE ‘99, Middlesbrough and Drawing Across Boundaries, Loughborough University.
British Council Award 1998, for Kunstbrucke 2, (Two Person exhibition selected by Sacha Craddock and Darrell Viner), East Berlin, Germany.
Wolverhampton University Research Award 1995, PhD research, Wimbledon School of Art and Surrey University.
Greater London Arts, 1993, for With No Opinion, Café Gallery and St James’ Gallery, London.
Masters in Computing in Art and Design awarded 1992, CASCAAD, Middlesex University.
Ray Finnis Foundation Award 1992, for research work undertaken at CASCAAD, Middlesex University.
Commodore Business Machines 1992, USA, Vermont Studio Centre Scholarship and Chelsea College of Art Grant for Vermont Studio Centre Residency.
A.G.B.I. Award 1983.
British Council Award, 1981, for Lightbulb, Berlin, Germany
Greater London Arts, 1980, for Waterloo Gallery, London.
Published…
Angela Eames and Drawing as Visual Thinking, Madeleine Pierpont, https://www.electricartefacts.art/news/angela-eames-and-drawing-as-visual-thinking October 2020.
Angela Eames - Longlisted for Lumen Prize 2019, Carla Rappaport.
The Mass: SYSTEMATISED - THERE ARE CRACKS / ...and THERE ARE CRACKS, THE END OF THE WORLD / DREAMS DO COME TRUE - online publication of images in response to global issues. https://www.the-mass.com/february-2020???????
Photography as a Purveyor of the Present - Metamorphosis online catalogue essay, Angela Eames, 2019, http://www.thelondongroup.com/exhibitions/metamorphosis/metamorphosis.php
Pluto Passing - Short Stories, Angela Eames, published by stillhere, 2018. ISBN: 978-1-99962-10-1 https://www.amazon.co.uk/P-Pluto-Passing-Short-Stories/
Adhering to the Grid - The Drawings of Angela Eames, published by stillhere, 2017. ISBN: 978-1-999621-08-7
Spatial Manoeuvres - The Drawings of Angela Eames, Interalia Magazine, (Interview with Richard Bright), 2015. https://www.interaliamag.org/interviews/spatial-manoeuvres-the-drawings-of-angela-eames/
Brush Lines not Brush Stokes - The drawings of Isabel Albrecht, Cornerhouse Publications, 2008. Preface to catalogue for Colour Progression exhibition at Patrick Heide Contemporary Art, ISBN: 978-3-941763-03-6
Embedded Drawing - The work of Michael Kidner, Writing on Drawing - Essays on Drawing Practice and Research, published by Intellect Books, 2008. ISBN: 978-1-84150-200-7
Surfacing catalogue, Total Arts Gallery, Dubai, 2008, published by Candlestar Ltd. ISBN: 978-0-9558661-0-4
The Inexorable Rise of Drawing, Annabel Tilley, Garageland Issue 6: Supernatural, 2007. http://www.transitiongallery.co.uk/documents/The_rise_of_drawing_Annabel_Tilley.pdf
Drawing Now - Drawing Research Network, published by IB Tauris, 2007, ISBN: 978-1-84511-533-3
Too Much Polish and Not Enough Spit. Published by TRACEY Drawing Journal, 2004
What is new work that is inherently out of sight? Pixelraiders 2 Sheffield Hallam University, 2004
Article in Digital Creativity 2002, Volume 13, No 4. pp. 239-256, On LookingWriting at SeeingDrawing: Designing meaningful interactive experiences, interactive design, information architecture and pedagogy
Drawing through Process - Kingston University, Works selected for touring exhibition, 2003
Where as opposed to what is drawing now? Colloquium at Glasgow School of Art, Keynote speaker, 2003
Focus on Drawing, National College of Art and Design, Dublin, Keynote speaker, 2003
Joining the Dots - Preface for exhibition catalogue at launch of BAFTA nominated Seeing Drawing interactive DVD, 2001
From Drawing to Computing and Back Again. Drawing Across Boundaries, Loughborough University, 2000
A Five Step Guide (or things to watch out for when using computers), CADE at Teesside University, 1999
Once Upon a Meantime, Creativity and Cognition, Loughborough University, 1994
BAFTA Nomination for the joint collaborative DVD product Seeing Drawing, 2001
BIMA award for the joint collaborative product Seeing Drawing, 2001
Curator of Joining the Dots exhibition for the launch of Seeing Drawing, 2001
Membership…
Member of THE BERMONDSEY ARTISTS GROUP 2019
Member of THE LONDON GROUP since 2007
Fellow of the RSA since 1995
Member of ACM SIGGRAPH 1992-1995
Member of the Computer Arts Society 1992-1995