Tessa Sulston

I trained as a sculptor and printmaker at Hornsey College of Art but have lived in the Tamar Valley in Cornwall for the past 12 years, running Callington School of Art. I work primarily with text, this year using Turner’s correspondence I’ve acquired from the archives of the British Library, the RA, the Tate and the Sir John Soane’s museum. I silk screen printed both local and 18th century maps of where Turner lived in London with the letters into the paintings, in layers. The colours I use come from the faded letters or from Turner’s works themselves. The letters when read aloud give us a real idea of how Turner spoke and my intention was to have the writing in the painting as if Turner himself had written it there. Each painting tells its own story which you can read about with each painting entry. I document all my works in A4 concertina sketchbooks.

Hornsey College of Art, London 1969 - 1973
Brighton College of Art 1973 - 1974

In 2022 and 2023 I have exhibited work at:
The Royal West of England Academy Open exhibitions in Bristol
The Drawn to Cotehele exhibition in Cornwall
The Drawn to the Valley Open Studios.

In 2019 I exhibited at The Bath Society of Artists 114th Open Exhibition 2019 in June and The Charles Causley Festival 2019 in June

In 2018 I have exhibited work at
1. The Tamar Valley Centre - DTTV group Spring Exhibition in March.
2. Tavistock Town Hall - DTTV group Summer Exhibition in August.
3. DTTV Open Studios event in September.
4. Royal Opera Arcade Gallery. London - DTTV group exhibition in October.
5. Pre selected for Royal West of England Academy Open Exhibition 2018.
6. South West of England Academy Open Exhibition 2018.