Neil Jessop

Born 1979 in Edinburgh

My work is always developing and changing in response to the many different areas where I have lived, to the materials that are available locally for me to use and to the processes that I have selected to record the artistic images that I am seeking.

Initially, my work focused upon producing a wide range of sculptures for display both indoors and in the open air. In particular, I concentrated upon making large land art sculptures set in the open countryside. These structures used materials such as stone, wood, mud and vegetation that I could collect within a short distance of the site where the sculpture was to be built. Normally, these locations were remote, secluded areas free from the impact of modern technology and crowded humanity. Having identified a location, my objective was to produce a series of nest-like forms that drew their inspiration from elements that occurred in the natural world. This art form was based upon creating an idyllic place of refuge where I could distance myself from the stresses and the insecurities of the modern world. A further element in the design was that, as the materials available locally offered minimal resistance to the effects of wind and rain, the...

BA 2:1 Hons in Fine Art
Grays School of Art
Aberdeen

Barn Acre Gallery, Henley 2006. Lead withie workshop where my students and I produced sculptures for commercial exhibition
Cyprus College of Art 2004. Sculptures selected for solo show at the end of artist in residence scheme
The Islington Art and Design Fair 2004. 3 paintings selected for group exhibition
Screen Media, New York 2003. Film selected for video exhibition from European artists.
The Foyer, Aberdeen 2003. Paintings shown in group exhibition.
Cologne Contemporary Art, Germany 2002. Sculpture shown in group exhibition.
Royal Scottish Academy of Fine Art, 2001. Student prize nominee from Scottish Arts Schools.
The Maas, Maastricht Holland, 2000. Large sculptures shown in student exhibition.
Remodelling of private garden in Edinburgh in 2000 to include 3 commissioned outdoor sculptures
Commissioned in 2000 to produce life sized, aluminium figure for a private garden in Aberdeen

RESIDENCIES

Cyprus College of Art
4 month artist in residence scheme making a variety of land art projectsJun Sept 2004
1 month painting residency July 2005

Maastricht College of Art, Holland
Awarded 6 m...