Di McGhee is a visual artist with a background in public art and socially engaged projects. Her site-specific installations respond to the immediate surroundings, utilising or are inspired by found materials. The work explores environmental themes and issues such as; climate change, pollution, erosion and adaptation on a public scale. She is an established artist, art educator and researcher, exhibiting her work internationally.
Di McGhee is a visual artist with a background in public art and socially engaged projects. Her site-specific installations respond to the immediate surroundings, utilising or are inspired by found materials. The work explores environmental themes and issues such as; climate change, pollution, erosion and adaptation on a public scale. She is an established artist, art educator and researcher, exhibiting her work internationally.
Practice-based research themes include those explored and experienced while creating site-specific installations. These create dialogue and conversations on ecology, adaptation, and environmental issues, along with the process-based issues, encountered while working in alternative sites. She is interested in developing responsive work and mapping the making process of the environmental and participatory artist.
Education
2010- 2013 University of the West of Scotland
Master of Education (Artist Teacher)
1991- 1992 University of East London
PGDip Art in Architecture (Public Art)
1988- 1991 Edinburgh College of Art
BA(Hons) Design (Architectural Glass)
1987- 1988 Cumbria College of Art & Design
Foundation
Selected Exhibitions
2023 Coming Home, Florence Arts Centre, Egremont, Cumbria, Oct 29- Dec 22
2023 Metamorphosis, Intro Gallery, Carlisle, Oct 14-29
2023 Climate Matters, The Bridge Gallery, Tynemouth, 7th April- July.
2022 Unpublished, Bridewell Studios and Gallery, Liverpool, 1-16 Oct.
2022 Art Walk Porty, Portobello, Edinburgh, Sept 1-30
2022 ‘Fruitful’, Group Exhibition, Florence Arts Centre, Cumbria.
2021 Dinle Kuyudan, Listen from the Well, Barbaros Water Culture Heritage Project Exhibition, Izmir, Turkey, Nov 20- Dec 12.
2021 Through the Locking Glass Exhibition, Rheged Centre, Penrith, 26 June-11 Jul.
2020 The Life of Plastic, Buy the kilo Gallery, Tynemouth, North Shields, October.
2020 Through the Locking Glass Exhibition, Studio Morland, Cumbria, 15-30 August
2020 Environmental Crisis Exhibition – Science and Art, Gerald Moore Gallery, London, Feb 13- Mar 14.
2019 Extreme Views, Group exhibition, Art Gene, Barrow in Furness, Apr 4 – Apr 14.
2019 100 Timepieces, Untangled Threads, Coastival Festival, Feb 28- Mar 23.
2018 Wrexham Open Exhibition, Ty Pawb/Undegun, Wrexham, Oct 12- Dec 16
2018 Polluted Postcards, Devonport Guildhall, Plymouth, Devon, Oct 2- Oct 13.
2017 Art Gene, Micro Residency Exhibtion, August 11-31.
2016 'Points of View' Group Show, Lazy Susan Gallery, New York, USA.
2016 Cumbrian Artist of the Year Exhibtion, Rheged, Cumbria, Oct 21- Nov 13.
2016 RSA Open 2016, Royal Scottish Academy, The Mound, Edinburgh, Scotland, Jul 16 - Aug 30 2016.
2015 WAKE, Four Person Exhibition, Undegun, Wrexham, North Wales, Nov 16- Dec 10.
2015 North Wales Open, Oriel Gallery, Clwyd Theatre Cymru, Flintshire, North Wales.
2015 DU ar WYN - Black on White, Oriel Gallery, Clwyd Theatre Cymru, Mold, Flintshire, North Wales, May 2 – Jun 6.
2015 Cumbrian Artist of the Year Exhibition, Rheged, Apr 26 - Jun 28.
2014 Scope International Contemporary Art Show, Creativity Squared Group Show,
Miami Beach, USA, 2 - 7 Dec
2014 Shropshire Open, Gallery 3,Shrewsbury, 13 Oct-17 Nov 2014.
2014 Rheged Micro Exhibition & Sculpture Trail, Sep 12 2014 - Nov 2 2014.
2014 North Wales Open, Oriel Gallery, Clwyd Theatre Cymru, Flintshire, North Wales.
2013 MEd Artist Teacher Exhibition in association with the Glasgow Galleries.
2006 FRED An Art Invasion across Cumbria.
2006 Percy House, Rural Women's Network, Cockermouth.
2004 Valley Sketchbook, Wasdale, Copeland Artists.
2004 FRED An Art Invasion across Cumbria.
2004 FRED An Art Invasion across Cumbria.
1992 Economist Plaza, St.James Sq, London, Public Sculptures and Printed Banners, Public Art Development Trust.
Public Commissions
2012 Bluebirds-Prayer Room Window, St. George's Primary School, Barrow in Furness.
2004 'CARING' Glass Wall North Cumbria Acute Hospital Trust funded by Enhancing the Healing Environment, The Kings Fund.
1992 University of East London, Plaistow, Printed Glass Panels.
Residencies
2023 Cromarty Residency, Cromarty Arts Trust, July 23- Aug 4
2022 The Fish Factory, Penryn Cornwall, Aug 1-14
2021 Greywood Arts, Creative Process Residency, Killeagh, Ireland, Jul 31- Aug 7.
2019 Brison Veor Residency, Cape Cornwall, Jul 27- Aug 3
2017 Gene Pool Residency, Art Gene, 1-11 August.
2016 Mothership Residency, Powerstock, Dorset, 8-21 August.
2016 Axisweb Instagram Takeover, May 6-8.
2015 Florence Arts Centre, Research Residency, 1-31 August.
2015 Cow House Studios, Wexford, Ireland, 6-12 April.
Art in Education
Selected Collaborative, Workshops and Site-Specific projects
2021 Dynamic Dunescapes, Wildlife Trust, Quadration Workshop, Haverigg Beach, Aug 24.
2021 Signal Films, West Coast Photo Festival, Copeland Schools Environmental Art Workshops, Lead Artist, May-July.
2018 Mural, Egremont Market Hall, Cumbria
2016 Shelter Mural, Workington, Cumbria
2015 Printmaking Workshops at Florence Arts Centre, 1-31 August.
2014 Mural Project, Community Growing Garden, Salterbeck, Workington, Cumbria.
2013 Jellyfish Glass and Ceramic Mosaic, Summer School, Whitehaven
2011 Fern Project, Newcastle University
2011 Banner and Banner parade, Whitehaven
2010 Haig Pit, Responses to the Collection, Whitehaven School.
2006 Mural, Remapping of Whitehaven, Monkwray Primary School.
2006 St. James Junior School, Whitehaven, Glass Panel, Funded by Cumbria Arts in Education.
2006 St. Begh's Primary School, Mural-'Industrial Power'.
2006 Spinning Yarns, Workshops, Egremont.
2006 Mural, Weston Spirit, Whitehaven
2005 Workshops at 'The Big Hill'.
2005 Spinning Yarns, Community workshops, glass, mosaic, Egremont.
2005 'Creatures' St George's Primary School, Barrow in Furness.
2004 Cumbria in Bloom Mural, Whitehaven, students from St. Benedicts RC Secondary School.
2004 'Summerhouse' performance space, Cleator Moor Nursery.
2004 Glass Workshops, The National Trust, Beckfoot, Ennerdale.
2003 Glass Workshops at The Beacon
2003 Performance Tent, The National Trust, The Untold Story, Ennerdale.
2003 Collaborative School Glass Project, Westfield Primary, Harrington Primary & Ewanrigg Primary Schools.
2002 Drawing in primary schools, The Big Draw, Montreal Primary School.
2002 'The Shore' Ceramic and Glass Mosaic, Garth Infant School, Workington.
2002 Set Designs, Joseph, Sands Centre Carlisle.
2001 'Woodlouse' Installation, St. George's Barrow in Furness.
2001 'The Story of the Ship' Book Project, Beacon, Whitehaven.
Awards and Funding
2017 The Big Draw Small Drawing Challenge, Winner
2015 Axisweb 100 recipient.
1992- Economist Summer Exhibition Winner.
Public Art Development Trust
The Kings Fund
Cumbria Community Foundation
Copeland Borough Council
Allerdale Borough Council
Continuing Professional Development
2009 Drawing Power NSEAD Glasgow School of Art
2008 Drawing Power NSEAD Glasgow School of Art
