| Paul Smith CV and artists statement |
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| view Paul's ceramics | |
| "I consider myself very fortunate to be a full-time
gallery artist living and working on the edge of the Peak District National
Park, the surrounding hill-farming landscape providing much of the inspiration
for my animal sculptures. My work is firmly rooted in the figurative tradition, although I always strive to express my feelings for the natural world in innovative ways. I work in a bold semi-abstract style, preferring the contemporary aesthetic approach expressed in simple curves and a minimum of detail. I usually choose to depict, either animals that presently live in these islands (the familiar domestic and wild creatures all around us), or the more exotic beasts that used to inhabit our forests, the wolves and wild boar of more dangerous times. They are gone from here but not forgotten. Other themes explore our relationship with the animal world, the ideas often based on a dream-like imagined reality. I am also drawn to the absurd; incongruous juxtapositions add an atmosphere of sometimes dark and surreal humour to my work. These elements form a recurring theme in European folk tales, most of which date from a time when forest blanketed the land and wild beasts roamed freely. I am particularly intrigued by the story of Red Riding Hood and the Wolf, an intricate and darkly sensual tapestry of innocence and deception. Such fables often involve concepts of change and metamorphosis, a world where things are seldom as they seem." Born: Northampton 1961 Art Education: Leicester Polytechnic 2:1 BA(Hons) Fine Art Sculpture 1983 Hertfordshire College of Art and Design Postgraduate Diploma in Art Therapy 1985 SOLO EXHIBITIONS 2004 June Cambridge Contemporary Art - "if you go down to the woods today" 2001 July Buxton Museum and Art Gallery, Derbyshire - "Animalism" SMALL-GROUP EXHIBITIONS OR FEATURED ARTIST 2003 May Cambridge Contemporary Art - Featured Ceramicist 2000 Nov Sanderson, George and Peach, Holmfirth,West Yorkshire Featured Ceramicist in Christmas Show 1999 May Ashbourne Gallery, Derbyshire - 2 Man Show with painter Angelo Murphy ART FAIRS 1999-2004 Glasgow Art Fair (represented by The Lost Gallery, Aberdeenshire) (April) 2000-2003 Affordable Art Fair, Battersea Park, London (The Lost Gallery) (Oct) CERAMICS FESTIVALS 2004 June Earth and Fire, Rufford, Notts 2004 May Brasschaat Conference and Biennale, Belgium 2003-2004 Gouda, Netherlands (May) 2003 May Clayart, Denbigh, Wales 2002 May Swalmen, Netherlands 2002 Sep Milsbeek, Netherlands 2000-2004 Potfest in the Park, Cumbria (July) 2000-2004 Art in Clay, Hatfield House, Herts (August) AWARDS Aug 2000 The Derbyshire Prize at the Derbyshire Open Art Exhibition Nov 2003 Highly Commended in the Zelli Porcelain Award, Dover Street, London |