Susan West

I am interested in exploring the space between, perhaps overly reproduced, public sculptures and monuments and their surroundings in the manner of Rachel Whiteread (Turner prize winner) who explores the spaces inside (and underneath, etc.) objects in her plaster casts. Conventionally objects are placed at the centres of paintings and photographs but I am concerned with the shapes objects make in relation to one another so familiar objects might end up at the edge. My work is semi abstract and I experiment with different paint textures, dripping black and metallic paint onto my canvasses in the manner of Jackson Pollock. I take a Fauve approach to colour in that often the colours in my work bear little relation to reality.



My inspirations include John Piper, Frank Auerbach, Ivon Hitchens and Jackson Pollock.

EDUCATION



1979 BA (honours) Chemistry, Somerville College, Oxford University

1985 PhD Photographic Science, Polytechnic of Central London

1998 B tech Diploma in Foundation Studies in Art and Design, Loughborough College
of Art and Design

EXHIBITIONS



November 2010: Leicester City Open at the New Walk Gallery, Leicester

October 2010: ArtSpace’s ‘On the Edge’ exhibition at the Mark Parker Gallery, Shepshed

September 2010: London Lives finalist, Bankside Gallery, London http://www.guardian.co.uk/london-lives/shortlist

Several dates 2010: Nottingham Society of Artists exhibitions.

May 2010: ArtSpace’s ‘Passions and Influences’ exhibition at Nottingham Society of Artists

Several dates 2009: Nottingham Society of Artists exhibitions.

September 2009: ArtSpace’s ‘Passions and Influences’ exhibition at Eltham College, London

March 2009: ‘Make Space for ArtSpace’ at Nottingham Society of Artists

December 2008: Derby Open

December 2008: Catmose Open

June 2008: ‘ArtSpace the Bigger Picture’ at Charnwood Museum, Loughborough.

Easter 2008: ‘ArtSpace in Miniature’ at Charnwood Museum

October 2007: Nottingham Open, Angel Row Gal...