The Artist
Alison graduated with a degree in Fine Art from Exeter College of Art and Design in 1991 then a post graduate teaching qualification from Exeter University.
She has taught adults, young people and children as well as practicing as a freelance artist, artist in residence and workshop leader.
For 5 years she was the manager of The Art Room - a therapeutic intervention for children and young people based on The Beattie Methodology using art as therapy.
She now commits herself full-time to her creative practice and exhibits her work in galleries and spaces in Oxford, London and the south coast.
Artist Statement
“Using landscape and seascape as a starting point, I explore movement and energy alongside notions of time and metamorphosis within the natural and physical world. Colour and qualities of light have a leading role to play in my paintings and are the expression of the transient moments I notice from observing the land and sea and sky.
I often work outside, either at the coast or in the landscape, on sheets of loose paper, using pastels so as to capture the movement and colour simultaneously.
I see this as information gathering and a reminder of the experience when I return to my studio work.
In my studio, I work on larger canvases or paper and use elements from the whole body of drawings made outside as starting points. From here I create paintings combining the visual recordings made, fired by my passion for colour mixing and making marks.
Creating drama and awe are important to me and I play with contrasts and the physicality of gestural mark making to achieve this.
During the studio painting process, I begin to recognise metaphorical thoughts that the images I am creating give rise to. These are often reflected in the titles I give them.
I work with acrylics, as under-layers, and oils as the main body of a painting to create depth and sheen. I paint with both mediums separately as well.
Recently I have been working on small squares of paper which I mount onto blocks of wood. These have been exhibited alongside larger work and this contrast in scale creates a powerful visual impact.
My work is an expression of the joy I am filled with as I experience the wonder of the natural world, taking C.S Lewis’s description of joy as a “sharp, wonderful stab of longing”.
Prizes
The Oxford Castle Heritage Project Prize 2006 – Solo Exhibition at the O3 gallery.
The Alexandra Reinhardt Memorial Prize 2011 – Artist in Residence, The Art Room
The Unison non-members prize in Feb 2020 in the annual Pastel Society exhibition at The Mall Galleries with her work titled ‘Seascapes of the Soul – Unleashed’.
Exhibitions
1991 Fine Art Degree Show – Exeter College of Art Fresh Art – Business Design Centre, Islington
2003 Artweeks Open Studio – 100a Cowley Road, Oxford
Feb - Mar 2004 The Oxford Show – Modern Art Oxford
May 2004 Space - Woodstock Road, Oxford
June – July 2004 Sept 2004 The White Hart, Wytham
July 2005 International Baptist Conference, Birmingham
Oct – Dec 2005 Patrons Exhibition, Ark-T Centre, Oxford
Apr 2006-19 Work shown annually at Queens College Chapel, Oxford University as part of the annual Lent Concerts.
Oct 2006 Solo Exhibition at the O3 Gallery, Oxford
July 2007 Solo Exhibition at Ark T Centre, Oxford
March 2009&10 Stations of the Cross exhibition at The Jam Factory, Oxford 5th
2011 Anniversary exhibition at O3 Gallery, Oxford
April – May 2012 Solo Exhibition at Wolfson College, Oxford
May/June 2019 OVADA Seven Counties Open exhibition 2 works accepted and shown
February 2020 The Annual Pastel Society Show at The Mall Galleries, London Unison non-members Award winner
May 2020 Oxfordshire Artweeks Online Open Studio
June – Dec 2020 Broadway Arts Festival Competition Online Exhibition selected to final 200 artists
June – September 2020 The Mall Galleries Buy Art Online Exhibition of Prizewinners
May 2021 Oxfordshire Artweeks Open Studios
August 2021 Solo Exhibition ‘Diving Deep’ at Ronapainting Gallery, Walton Street, Oxford.
Sept 2021 Oxford Art Society Open Call
November 2021 ING Discerning Eye exhibition at The Mall Galleries work selected to show by Roland Cowan.
December 2021 Collaborative Artist Led Exhibition at The Old Fire Station, Henley-on-Thames.
April 2022 Solo Exhibition ‘My Bathybic Heart’ at Carey Blyth Gallery, Oxford
May 2022 Oxfordshire Artweeks Open Studios
July 2022 - Feb 2023 ‘Call of the Deep’ exhibited as part of Elevate 04 ArtCan exhibition at The Shard, London
Sept 2022 Oxford Art Society Open Call
Sept/Oct 2022 ‘Colours of a Day’ exhibition at Darl-e and the Bear, Woodstock
November 2022 - Jan ‘23 Breathing Out - ArtCan Virtual Gallery Exhibition
Commissions
Jan 2013 ‘Tree of Life’ for SGM Lifewords 125th Celebration ‘Epiphany’ acrylic on canvas.
2007 Private oil painting commission.
2012 Private Painting commission.
2020 Private Pastel commission