Emma Bell

About the artist

Emma Bell
Emma Bell

Painter, Textile Artist

    Current Exhibitions

    19/06/2010  Get Naked - artspaces / bowie gallery, Totnes
    28/05/2010  Totnes and Dartington Open Studios
    28/11/2009  Crux Craft Fair - Rattery Village Hall, nr Totnes
    22/05/2009  Totnes and Dartington Open Studios - open studio, Totnes
    20/05/2009  The Great Create - National Trust, Greenway, Galmpton
    25/11/2008  Textile- based mixed show - Art Rooms, Totnes
    17/11/2008  Following the Thread - Birdwood House Gallery, Totnes

    Statement

    My hope is always to try and create work that captures something of a sense of enchantment and beauty - that magic, breathtaking feeling when the curtain rises in a darkened theatre and momentarily another world is revealed.

    Biography

    My work is infused with a sense of enchantment, reflecting a childhood spent surrounded by, and a lifelong passion for, the exciting worlds of theatre and music. My parents were musicians with the Royal Shakespeare Company, and memories of this glamorous, bohemian and sometimes chaotic life, with all it's dusty props and opulent costumes, are a rich and lasting source of inspiration.
    After a degree in English and Drama I went into teaching. Throughout my early career in Education I enjoyed exploring the creative arts - experimenting with ceramics, textiles, painting, drawing and printmaking - and running Community Arts workshops in Bristol.
    Moving with my family to Totnes in beautiful South Devon in 1996 and then taking an Access to the Visual Arts course in 1999 were catalysts. Since then I have increasingly concentrated on developing my studio practice, completing many private commissions, and exhibiting locally.
    I love the unbounded possibilities of working in mixed media to create highly textured, multi-layered pieces, rich in surface pattern and sumptuous colour, reflecting the play of light. My work has been described as bold, exuberant, joyful and vibrant. Quotes from the 'Comments' book at one of my recent exhibitions include: "stunningly beautiful" - "romantic brilliance" - "intoxicating and magical" - "the stuff of dreams" - "breathtakingly lovely and inspiring".
    I start with handmade paper and acrylic, and then add whatever gorgeous materials I can find and go for it! Anything from exquisite Japanese tissue to dried coconut fibres and crushed sea shells. The natural world, myth, dream and fairytale fuse to inspire my imagination. I see the various dragons, firebirds, peacocks, tigers and ballgowns as glittering illustrations that might have fallen from an ancient and beautiful book of fairytales.
    My influences include artists such as Chagall, Klimt and Winifred Nicholson; Eastern European decorative arts; the Ballets Russes; costumes and stage sets; fabulously illustrated children's books; travel memories of such wonders as the Esala Perehera in Sri Lanka, a Shinto wedding in Tokyo, the tops of mountains from 30,000 feet; my daughter's amazing A'Level Photography work; the trees in my garden... like this list, ever growing and changing.
    Music is also a huge and constant influence in my life. I took up the French Horn aged twelve, and over thirty years later still enjoy the challenges of this most mysterious, golden and difficult of instruments. I fulfill my love of classical music playing professionally with many orchestras and ensembles in the South West. I am also lucky enough to record regularly with the wonderful musician/singer-composer Chloe March, with whom I will be collaborating on a sound/art installation in 2009.

    Exhibition History

    December 2008 - 28th Jan 2009  Artspaces group show, The Bowie Gallery, High Street, Totnes
    December 2008  Artspaces Christmas Show, The Flavel, Dartmouth
    December 2008 - 6th January 2009  Art Rooms, 69 The Narrows, Totnes - mixed textile-based show
    16th - 22nd November 2008  'Following the Thread', Two Woman Show, Birdwood House, Totnes, Devon.
    Ongoing  Corporate art placements with 'Artspaces', Devon.
    July 2008  'The Naked Truth', 'Artspaces' Gallery, Totnes, Devon.
    April 2008  'Calm and Serene', Harbour House Gallery, Kingsbridge
    February 2008 to present  'Artworks' Gallery, South Brent, Devon
    February and June 2008  '69 Collective' Gallery, Totnes, Devon
    December 2007  Artspaces, 'Seven from Heaven', The Flavel Contemporary Art Centre, Dartmouth.
    August 2007  Artspaces, 'Regatta Affordable Art Fair', The Flavel Contemporary Art Centre, Dartmouth
    May 2007  'Gathering Threads', Two Woman Show, Birdwood House Gallery, Totnes, Devon.
    2006  Devon Artsculture Artists at Totnes Festival
    2006  Devon Artsculture, 'Celebrating Literature', National Trust 'Greenway', Devon.
    April 2006  'Mixed Media Open', Harbour House Gallery, Kingsbridge
    October 2005  'Open', Harbour House Gallery, Kingsbridge
    2004  'Unsigned', Ariel Centre, Totnes
    2003  The Christmas Bazaar, Totnes
    2003  Plymouth Guildhall Artists Exhibition for Plymouth Symphony Orchestra Concert Series
    2003  Cafe Gallery and 'Open', Harbour House gallery, Kingsbridge
    2002  'Open', Ariel Centre, Totnes
    2000  Paperworks, Totnes
    2000  'Open', Ariel Centre, Totnes
    1999  The Mansion, Totnes
    1999  The Mansion, Totnes
     
     

     

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