My work is inspired by research in Philosophy and the Human Sciences often involving collaborations with experts in these fields to produce works that span from painting, video and sculpture through to public engagement activities.
My recent practice has focused on a single material and allowed this to dictate the direction of the work. This material is Soil. This has involved making paints from local muds and plant matters and using these to depict landscapes and the features in them, creating soil based photographs and working with a range of soil related industries and specialists.
This results in a multi-layered practice informed and actively developing my understanding of pertinent contemporary issues such as Ecological concerns, identity, Industrial Heritage, the role of Fine Art in Higher Education and New Materialist philosophy.
I hold an MA distinction in Fine Art from Swansea Met, along with a BSc in Human Sciences from University College London, where I focused on evolutionary theory. I have had works purchased by private and public collectors, including Paintings in Hospitals. My work has been recognised by both The Bath Royal Society of Artists and the Welsh Artist of the Year (winner of the student category in 2010). I was also cover artist for Artist Newsletter magazine (April 2012) and selected by AXIS as one of the top five graduating MA students from Wales (2011 and 2012). In addition, I have been awarded an Arts Council of Wales grant (2013) and run workshops with Cardiff University Biosciences department, the Princes’ Trust and Cardiff Met.
Outside of this I use my skills to provide services to others. This includes arts workshops, decorating, murals, working in prisons and hospitals.
Education
2008-2011 Swansea Metropolitan University MA Fine Art - Distinction
2006 Cardiff Centre for Lifelong Learning Introduction to Arts Management
2002-2005 University of Wales Institute Cardiff BA Fine Art 2.1
1998-2001 University College London, London BSc Human Sciences 2.
Selected Solo Exhibitions and Residencies
Sept – Nov 2014 The […] Space, Mission Gallery, Swansea
Nov 2012 - Jun 2013 ‘Unnatural Selection’ Newport Gallery and Museum temporary exhibitions space, Milkwood Gallery Cardiff and Swansea Met.
Oct 2011 ‘Rainbow song’ for Made in Roath Festival, Roath Park Conservatory, Cardiff
Sept/Oct 2011 ‘After Image’ with 2nd Year Cardiff University PHD Psychology Student Georgie Powell, Residency at Milkwood Gallery, Cardiff
Selected Group Exhibitions
August 2018 Everything Now ‘Beep’ Painting Biennial, Swansea
June 2015 Trigonometry at O3 Gallery, Oxford
Sept 2014 Black Cube Collective Annual Show, Edinburgh
July 2014 ‘Video Game Lands’ with Third Person View, Sheffield
Jan 2012 ‘Fresh Paint’ Newport Museum and Art Gallery
Sept 2011 ‘Vending Machine’ by Elysium + ART-E-MOTION, Venice Biennale 2011
Nov 2010 ‘A Taste of Wales’ Freies Museum, Berlin
June Aug 2010 ’Welsh Artist of the Year 2010’ St David’s Hall, Cardiff
Feb 2010 ‘Tacitly Speaking’ with S. Zeally and J. Howieson, Backlit, Nottingham
Sep 2009 Wirksworth Arts Festival, Derbyshire
Significant Projects / Commissions
October 2018 Mural project at Ysgol Pencae, Cardiff. Three panels painted to represent nature and symbolise learning. Accompanied by workshops with Reception and Year 2 pupils.
Jan - Sept 2016 Willows High School Learning Centre Project, assisted with the community redevelopment of a high school learning centre and ran the outreach educational content for First Campus.
Sept 2014 Project managing Hospitality and Dance projects for First Campus. Working with Dis-abled and Able bodied children in South Wales to raise educational aspirations in deprived areas.
Jan 2014 - 2015 Unnatural Selection 2 project proposal with Cardiff University Computer Science department, ‘Moon’ digital arts agency and Cardiff University Psychology Department creating digital artworks that evolve and adapt to the audiences who see them.
Jan - Mar 2014 Science and arts project with Cardiff University cancer stem cell research department (ESCRI) and GCSE students at Heolddu Comprehensive. Funded by the Princes’ Trust.
June 2013 Hosted seminar with guest speakers, Professor Samir Okasha, Bristol University Philosophy of Science and Professor Clive Cazeaux, Cardiff Metropolitan University Arts Department.
July 2012 - 13 Unnatural Selection, project exploring links between public engagement, art and science.
Oct 2012 Consulted with Cardiff University Neuroscience department on Brain Awareness Week and the Neuroscience Biennale.
April 2012 Set up ‘Cardiff Art and Science Forum’ with Julia Thomas
Oct 2011 Curating science and sci-art exhibits for the ‘Made in Roath Festival’ 2011. Featuring the work of Professor Derek Jones, Cardiff University Neuroimaging department.
Awards and Achievements
July 2018 Nominated for Cardiff Met Community Engagement Award.
March 2017 Visual Arts consultant for Megan Jowett’s award winning music project in schools - Deutsche Bank Award.
Nov 2014 Shortlisted for ‘The Space’ Digital Arts Award
Nov 2012 Grant from Arts Council Wales for ‘Unnatural Selection’
July 2012 Selected for AXIS’ ‘Out and Beyond Program’
May 2012 Cover artist for AN (Artists Newsletter magazine/website)
May 2010 Winner of the Student Prize Welsh Artist of the Year 2010
Lectures and Presentations
March 2015 Presented to Contemporary Art Society Wales
June 2014 Tour of the Painting in Hospitals South Wales Collection
Sept 2013 Panellist at AXIS arts agency’s seminar ‘continuing practice in the arts’
March 2013 Two Lectures to MA students at Swansea Met on ‘Colour Theory’ and ‘Art and Science’, plus tutorials.
July 2012 Presentation on Art and Science at Cardiff Science Festival 2012
March 2012 Presentation at conference hosted by Cardiff Dorkbot society.
Feb 2012 ‘Arts / Science collaborations and the work of Phil Lambert’ Lecture at CUBRIC, Cardiff University Psychology department.
