Nigel Dawes

I have been working with found objects throughout my artistic career, more recently with found plastic objects and fragments. I love the versatility, the intensity of colour, industrial neutrality, and most of all, the way they record their histories over time and space.

An interest in collecting and exploring the landscape eventually merged into multiples and site specific art installations.

I collect and manipulate discarded plastics of all kinds to create sculptures using adhesives, rivets, cutting and slotting together. Sources of materials include beaches, the countryside, cities, any place where discarded plastic objects are dumped or reappear.

The hidden histories of objects, sometimes secret journeys of identical objects towards inevitable individualism fascinate me. Though the sea for example identical objects transform into unique pieces, distinguished now by colour, texture, age. Or perhaps a random experience finding a series of items on a walk through the streets produces an almost surreal motive for a piece.

I invent rules for processes as I walk and collect. I record and manipulate the objects I am drawn to work with as I am collecting them, keeping my choices of making processes open to influence from both my th...

BA (hons.), Fine Art & Art History, Goldsmiths College, University of London, 1991. (2.1)
BTEC National Diploma, Art & Design, South Devon College of Arts & Technology, 1987. (distinction)

Group Exhibitions
2024 Bath Open Art Prize, 44AD Artspace, Bath, UK
2024 The Bizzare, Fox Yard Studio, Stowmarket, Suffolk, UK
2024 Open Art 24, Black Swan Arts, Frome, Somerset, UK
2021 Worse Things Happen at Sea, Townmill Galleries, Lyme Regis, Dorset, UK
2020 Winter Art Expo 2020, The Curve, Corscombe, Dorset, UK
2020 Housekeeping, Jeannie Avent Gallery, London, UK
2019 The London Group Annual Open, The Cello Factory, London, UK (catalogue)
2019 The London Ultra, Bargehouse, The Oxo Tower, London, UK (catalogue)
2019 From The Studios, Literary & Scientific Institute, Bridport, Dorset, UK
2019 Micro, Air Gallery, Manchester, UK
2018 Art For Education, House of Vans, London, UK (catalogue)
2014 Rubbish Collection, Maybe a Vole Gallery, London, UK (catalogue)
1993 Crossover, Kings Cross, London, UK (various site specific locations)
1990 Massive Reductions, Diorama, London, UK

Solo Exhibitions
2022 Creatures of The Deep, studio, Uploders, Dorset, UK (catalogue) (dorset arts week)
2019 Vacuum Dreams, studio, Uploders, Dorset, UK (catalogue) (Bridport Open Studios)
2019 Repetitions, Luxury Designers Collective, London, UK
2007 Recent Works From Palenque, Organic & Natural, London, UK