Artist Statement - CV
Wendy Rhodes - Artist statement
I am a UK based artist whose drawing and printmaking practices reflect my experiences of walking through rural countryside, along coastlines, and becoming immersed in place. The rural countryside is an imperfect vision of a natural environment that has been shaped by human intervention. Paths are chewed and indented by farm machinery, hedges are cut and fences repaired. Nature does its best to wrench back control; rain washes paths to new shapes, fence posts lean to their own tune and these are the moments that I find fascinating. Every piece I create begins with drawing, exploring the structures and textures of footpaths, bridleways and beaches; tracking seasonal and environmental changes. My practice is informed by writers and artists such as Tim Ingold and John Virtue, both of whom have experiential practices, exploring walking and wayfaring. A similarly immersive approach enables me to document place in a diarist’s format, drawing attention to details, memories and glimpses that build to a whole.
I work with a monochromatic palette in order to focus attention onto surfaces, structural elements and light. The qualities within the materials that I use and their potential for mark making are important motivating factors. I draw with graphite, water soluble graphite and charcoal, and through these mediums I am able to thoroughly investigate my imagery. My etchings enable me to exploit a rich visual language of texture, line and marks and are created using traditional intaglio methods on copper plates. Most importantly, etching provides me with the opportunity to build layers into my image making; representing an over-layering of time and weathering that is inherent to all places.
CV
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Background
Education
BA (Hons) Graphic Design (Illustration) - Gwent College
PGCE Art and Design – Bretton Hall, Leeds University
MA (Distinction) Multi-Disciplinary Printmaking, University of the West of England
PhD - Thesis title: Drawing and Etching Place: What are the experiential and material characteristics of British contemporary practice and how do they evidence reciprocity between drawing and etching? University of the West of England
Group and Solo Exhibitions
2023
Paradise Found: New Visions of the Blackdown Hills, Thelma Hulbert Gallery, Honiton, Devon
Society for Women Artists 162st Annual Open Exhibition, Mall Galleries, London
BSA 118th Annual open, Victoria Art Gallery, Bath
Making Contact – Stockholm, Grafiska Sallskapet, Stockholm
Royal Academy Summer Exhibtion, 2023
From Where I Stand, featured Artist, Spencer House Gallery, Tetbury
2022
EspacioTiempo de la Marea: Huellas & Palimpsestos Collaborative Portfolio show, Ecléctico ArtSpace: Galería Arte Contemporáneo, Zapopan, México
Spring Printmaking Exhibition, 5 Printmakers at Chapel Arts, Cheltenham
made visible, The Setting, Three Storeys, Nailsworth, Gloucestershire
Memories, Take4 Gallery, Ledbury, Herefordshire
BSA 117th Annual Open, Victoria Art Gallery, Bath
SGFA 101st Annual Open, Mall Galleries, London
Printmaking 2022 Curated Exhibition, Sixteen Gallery, Cheltenham
Layers, Take4 Gallery, Ledbury, Herefordshire
Eye of the Beholder, Spencer House Gallery, Tetbury
RWA 169 Annual Open Exhibition, Royal West of England Academy, Bristol
2021
Winter Exhibition, Three Storeys, Nailsworth, Gloucestershire 2021
RWA 168, Annual Open exhibition, Bristol 2021
2019
RWA 167, Annual Open exhibition, Bristol 2019
Black Swan Arts Open, Frome, Somerset 2019
2018
Drawing & Etching Place, F Block Gallery UWE, Bower Ashton, Bristol 2018
Into the Light: INsight Artists take on artefacts from the museum stores. Insight printmakers group show, Museum in the Park, Stroud, Gloucestershire 2018
Athens Print Fest, “18” 4th edition – nóstos / nostalgia, Felios Foundation, Athens, Greece 2018
Out of the Woods, Gloucestershire Printmaking Co-operative, Westonbirt Arboretum 2017
20:20 Print exchange, Red Hot Press, Manchester 2017
Masters Etching, RE Bankside Gallery, London 2016
Diversity in Print, Roses Theatre, Tewkesbury 2016
RWA 164 Autumn Open exhibition, Bristol 2016
Near and Far, Solo show, Ruskin Mill Nailsworth, 2016
Insight Printmakers, Wotton Gallery 2016
Pilgrimage, Gloucester Cathedral 2016
Drawn to print, Gloucestershire Print Co-operative 2016
RWA 163, Autumn open exhibition, Bristol 2015
Alchemy, GPC group show, Museum in the Park, Stroud 2015
Walking Drawing Etching, Solo show, Wotton Gallery, Gloucestershire 2015
Second Impressions, Insight Printmakers Group show, New Brewery Arts, Cirencester 2014
RWA 161 Autumn open exhibition, Bristol 2013
Impact conference, Gloucestershire Printmaking Co-operative Group shows 2013
MA Degree Show, UWE, Bristol 2012
Annual Open exhibition, Society of Graphic Fine Art, Menier Gallery, London 2012
Bisensual, Group show, ROM8, Bergen 2012
Open Drawing exhibition, Plough Arts Centre, Great Torrington 2011
Annual Open exhibition, Society of Graphic Fine Art, Menier Gallery, London 2011
In Walking Distance, Solo show, Cotswold Craftsmen, Nailsworth 2011
Curation
Making Contact/Ta Kontakt, Exhibition bringing together the work of a collaborative project co-created by myself and printmaker Jenny Palmer. The collaboration was between Grafiska Sallskapet, based in Stockholm, Sweden and Gloucestershire Printmaking Cooperative, based in Stroud, UK and the exhibition was shown at the Grafiska Sallskapet Gallery, Stockholm, 2023
Drawing & Etching Place, Exhibition featuring invited artists including Norman Ackroyd RA, Jason Hicklin RE, Ros Ford VPRWA, Ian Chamberlain, ARE, Bronwen Sleigh & David Sully, F Block Gallery UWE, Bower Ashton, Bristol, 2018
Drawn to Print, Exhibition featuring invited artists including Emma Stibbon RA, Impress Festival, Gloucestershire Printmaking Co-operative, Stroud, February 2016
Residency
Wasp Studios, The Booth, Scalloway, Shetland Islands, 4 weeks, August 2016 Focus: Place-based drawing research - the experience of drawing, immersion in place and the experiential impact on my practice
Associations
RWA Artist Network Member
Gloucestershire Print Cooperative, Tutor and Exchange project coordinator