Carolyn Black

My work employs a range of mediums and processes to respond to, and investigate my local landscape in Gloucestershire, UK. I have a passion for the River Severn and imagine how it might change when sea levels rise and the estuary changes shape due to future flooding. When hills become islands.

My processes often reflect the very elements that threaten the stability of our landscape. Heatwaves create drawings, downpours result in drawings being washed away, rubbings get up close to the cliffs, leaving traces behind.

Most works are durational in some way. They relate to the history of the geology, the time of making, prospective shifts, and how I might create a sense of imminent changes without resorting to illustration. I melt ice with graphite powder and earth pigments; put objects in the path of video projections of tidal waves, and use light to draw with, using film stills and cyanotypes.

I often film my making processes.

Like the river, my studio practice meanders and flows. I crumble earth, let it slip through my fingers to the ground.

I hold the river and the river holds me.

1999 MA Fine Art with distinction for thesis Cardiff UWIC
1996 Post-Grad Diploma Extension Studies Fine Art Bristol UWE
1993 BA (hons) Fine Art Bristol UWE
1990 Foundation Fine Art Bristol UWE

2025 Elemental at Caerbladon Gallery, Malmesbury
2024 Something Between us – The Other Side – video installation in 2 Chapels of rest. With Anna Cady & Nick Grellier, Stroud Film Festival
2024 The George Gallery, Newnham - Time Lapse with Melanie Clarke & Nichola Goff
2023 Centrespace Gallery, Bristol – Time Lapse with Melanie Clarke & Nichola Goff
2023 Meadow Arts – Watermarks 2023, Hereford
2023 Black Swan Open
2022 SVA Gallery – Severn Worlding, Stroud, curated by Patricia Brien
2022 Stroud Film Festival March
2022 & 2023 Cinesisters Film Screening, Plymouth - Plymouth
Various Old Passage Show – Walking The Land group
2022 Bridport Art Centre – film screening & discussion ‘Eve’s Creation’ – November
2022 Artist Support Pledge exhibition Hastings Contemporary 24 November 2021 and 18 April 2022.
2021 Wells Art Contemporary An edited version of When You Call I Shall Come selected from over 3,500 submissions, 91 artworks
2020/2021 EarthPhoto 1 of 35 international artists selected from over 3,000 international applicants, mine is “When You Call, I Shall Come” – video work - in the ‘nature’ category. My film was shortlisted for the video prize.
2020 Trinity Buoy Wharf Drawing Prize As Above So Below (select...