Approved: 16.08.2006

Sonja Benskin Mesher

Artist, Researcher, Writer

Approved: 16.08.2006

The work is abstract. It is concerned with paint and memory.
Inspired by a childhood in St Ives, and latter years here in Wales, the work continues to explore the mystery and memory.
My work has simplified.
Balancing the outside world with that inside.
Landscapes of the mind.
The process starts with research, finding objects, subjects and ideas. Music and sounds focus the mind, and the

Read more ...

  • Location: Dolgellau, Wales
  • Artforms: Painting
  • Tags: 2d, mixed media
 

Artist Statement

The work is abstract. It is concerned with paint and memory. Inspired by a childhood in St Ives, and latter years here in Wales, the work continues to explore the mystery and memory. My work has simplified. Balancing the outside world with that inside. Landscapes of the mind. The process starts with research, finding objects, subjects and ideas. Music and sounds focus the mind, and the painting, collage and layering begin, to continue until the image feels right. The paint is not completely controlled, the media allowed to dictate the passage of the work. Two or three images are worked on simultaneously to allow the work to continue whilst the paint dries. This also creates a flow of ideas, and imagery. The ideas slowly change and develop without interruption.

CV & Education

Qualifications and training 1999 - Advanced GNVQ, Art and Design, Distinction 1982 - A Level Art 1962 - O Level Art Solo exhibitions 2008 - Brightening the Slate, Town Libraries, Blaenau Ffestiniog and Caernarfon 2008 - The Visit, All Saints, Hereford 2008 - Turning the Tide, Oriel Cambria Gallery, Tregaron 2007 - Flying Alone, Unicorn Theatre, London 2007 - Looking for a Brighter Sky, King Street Gallery, Carmarthen 2006 - A Personal View, Pandy Mill Gallery, LLangollen 2006 - A Personal View, Spectrum Gallery, Machynlleth, Powys 2006 - Because the Sky is Blue, Snowdon Mill, Porthmadog 2005 - Recent Paintings, Oriel Makers, Cardiff 2005 - Shoreline, Oriel Plas Glyn y Weddw, Llanebedrog, North Wales 2005 - Watermarks, Bare Feet Gallery, Dublin 2004 - Blue, Rhiannon Gold Centre, Tregaron 2004 - Blue, Wrexham Art Centre 2003 - Blue Square, Oriel Parc Glynllifon, Caernarfon 2002 - Sound Works, Artlink, Hull 2002 - The Cove Project, Oriel Cambria, Tregaron 2001 - Journey, Cynon Valley Museum, Aberdare 2001 - Small Life, Y Tabernacl Museum of Modern Art Wales, Machynlleth 2001 - Sound Works, Aberystwyth Arts Centre, Aberystwyth 2000 - Other People's Lives, Pontadawe Arts Centre, Swansea 1999 - Of Sound, Theatre Ardudwy, Harlech Group exhibitions 2009 - Freeze Frame, Candid Gallery, London 2008 - King Bladud's Pigs, Public Installation, Bath 2008 - Romance, Kowalsky Gallery, London 2007 - Adam Street Club, Adam Street Gallery, London 2007 - Drawing Bienalle, Oriel Q, Narberth 2007 - M.A.D, Draywalk Gallery, London 2006 - Art at Cass, Cass Business School, City of London 2006 - Undercover, Oriel Davies, Newtown 2006 - Young Curators, Oriel Davies, Newtown 2005 - About Face, Euroart Gallery, London 2005 - Apex, Candid Arts Trust, London 2005 - Challenge the Nail, Salon Des Artes, London 2005 - Yr Wyddor, Oriel Canfas, Cardiff 2004 - Art 4 All, Workplace Art, London 2004 - Art at Work, Coningsby Gallery, London 2004 - Essence of Wales, St David's Hall, Cardiff 2003 - Blue Wing Gallery, London 2003 - Idea, Time, Change, Vancouver, Canada 2003 - Square Visions, Oriel Plas Glynn y Weddw, Llanbedrog 2002 - Open Competition, Y Tabernacl Museum of Modern Art Wales, Machynlleth (annual) 2002 - Welsh Artist of the Year, St David's Hall, Cardiff (annual) 2001 - Selected Women Artists, Oriel Plas Glyn Weddw, Llanbedrog 2001 - Society of Graphic Fine Art, Hotbath Gallery, Bath 2001 - Summer Exhibition, Albany Gallery, Cardiff 2000 - Artwest, Carmarthen 2000 - Cannibal Sandwich, Nottingham Playhouse, Nottingham 2000 - Harlech Biennale, Harlech 2000 - Harlech Printmaking Open, Theatre Ardudwy, Harlech 2000 - Just Another Day, Ffotogallery, Cardiff 2000 - Millennium Book Project, Barbican, London and USA 2000 - Summer Exhibition, Royal Cambrian Academy, Conwy 1999 - Y Tabernacl MOMA Wales, Machynlleth 1999 - Wales Drawing Biennale, Aberystwyth Arts Centre, Aberystwyth (biannual) Curated projects 2006 - Kernow/Cymru, Touring Exhibition, Wales