Exhibition: Thick Smoke 2-19 July

Online Launch: 3rd July: Join us via zoom for a first look at the show from the gallery. This is an online event only. Barbara and Will share their ideas for the show followed by a Q&A. Sign up via Eventbrite to gain access.

Opening event at Spud Gallery: 4th July: Come to Spud in the heart of the New Forest to meet the artists and enjoy the hospitality.

Family event at Spud Gallery, 12th July: A gallery event aimed at young art fans with accompanying adults. Refreshments and an artist talk about the work, and a relaxed environment allowing children to touch and interact with the work. Sign up via Eventbrite.

 

Thick Smoke

What happens when a visual artist nearly loses their sight?

Shock. A shapeless void. Cataracts causing hazy vision, detached retina, black clouds, swirling floaters, flashes like an old movie, all happening suddenly. No warning. Two eyes in one body giving a different view and feeding different information to the brain. The brain attempts to catch- up with the changes and make sense of the new way of seeing the world. Hallucinations...when our eyes lie to us.

How do we respond when what we believe is fundamental to our identity is under threat? When does a setback become a gift?

Setting out to consider these questions, the experience of seeing and not seeing becomes the central story of Thick Smoke.

This is the second collaboration by Barbara J Graham and Will Woods who began working together in 2024 after meeting at ‘a space’ Arches Studios in Southampton. Barbara has recently received an Arts Council Grant to develop her practice further and Will is completing an MA in curating. For Thick Smoke, Barbara paints on natural and artificial surfaces to unpack how the world can be simultaneously in and out of focus.

In response, Will’s film and soundscape echo the visual and psychological themes of these works.


This Spud experimental exhibition has provided an opportunity to share the experience of making work through this significant period.

 

Jan - July 2025: DYCP Arts Council Project

The first 6 months of 2025 have been all about my DYCP grant from the Arts Council.

The theme of my submission was to develop my painting practice in light of the eye surgeries I had last year, and how my change in vision effected the way I paint.

What has been even more influential on my practice as a result of the grant, is having money to spend on materials, and to work in abundance without the fear that throwing paint around meant less money left over to care for my daughter. I have been able to be prolific in ways that wouldn’t have been possible, making several large paintings plus a multitude of smaller works, many of which will be on show in the next few weeks at Spud Gallery and Gods House Tower, Southampton.

2 Feb - 3 March 2025 Exhibition: Clay at SPUD Gallery

Photo credit: Tom Hall

13 Dec 2024 - 9 Feb 2025 Exhibition: Air of Different Temperatures, Hidden Wardrobe

This is the first collaboration between Barbara J Graham and Will S Woods who met at the Arches Studios two years ago. Barbara invents abstract, impossible spaces that feel physical but can only exist in painting; Will’s practice includes making maquettes of invented spaces that contain three-dimensional painting. For The Hidden Wardrobe, they have merged their interests to devise an intervention that treats the interior space of the former shop as a deep canvas.

 

Air of Different Temperatures re-animates the atmosphere in forgotten corners and considers The Hidden Wardrobe’s current contents not as hidden but as hiding. Objects obscured in storage are cast as performers through shadow play in a translucent, hanging, collage. Sections of painting waft in a breeze, revealing and concealing the space. After dark, oscillating lights cast shadows and scatter through the air, rebounding off the surfaces, through the glass at the front of the shop, and onto the street.

 

‘Working together has helped us dig deeper in our respective and shared motivational insights. The process marks a freer approach which we both consider as a meaningful step towards new ways of interdependent working.’ 

 

Air of Different Temperatures will be on display in the windows of the Hidden Wardrobe from Friday 13th December until Sunday 2nd February 2025 and is free to visit.

 

Join us on Friday 13th December to celebrate the launch of the new Hidden Wardrobe exhibition, grab your FREE tickets for the launch event HERE

Date

13/12/24 - 02/02/25

Location

The Hidden Wardrobe

5 Dec 2024 - 11 Jan 2025 Exhibition: Hold On - Let Go

The SPUD Open is fast becoming a notable regional exhibition. Each year we look for a universal question that might resonates within our Spud Community, the New Forest National Park and with our wider reginal audiences. We feel that we are at a tipping-point, with so many relevant subjects to our area, environment, personal well-being and social relationships, now might be a good time to evaluate what to hold onto and what we might let go of.

This year my painting “On the last day of the world I would want to plant a tree” has been selected.

I wrote: Recent visual impairments as a result of cataracts and eye surgery have prompted me to destroy and overpaint my work to communicate my frustration at my loss. The title is taken from the poem "Place" by ecological activist and poet, W.S Merwin, who mourns a different kind of loss.

Find more details of the exhibition here

On the last day of the world I would want to plant a tree, 2024

Cataract surgery has been successful

Yesterday I had cataract surgery.

I’ve been half blind since February. Surgery to fix a detached retina left me with a blind spot and a rapidly developing cataract. The new glasses I got in June quickly became useless.

The cataract didn’t just blur my vision, ir wasn’t a case of being short sighted, it was refractive error that gave me double and triple vision of anything high contrast (like text), and huge halos around lights that made driving after dark nearly impossible.

Yesterday, they gave me a new lens in my eye. My GOD it was painful. It wasn’t supposed to hurt that much, but apparently the previous surgery left me more sensitive to the pressure and it was excruciating. I’d rather go through a whole mouthful of route canal than do that again.

The scariest part is, like the retinal surgery, you are awake while they dismantle your eyeball. This just doesn’t seem reasonable. Not even an anxiety med to calm my nerves. The surgeon shines a light into your eye that is hotter than the sun, and you can’t close your eye because it is prized open. All I could think of was the scene in “Clockwork Orange”. Then you go blind for a bid, then you can see again, and go blind again. Cataract surgery is a very common procedure with only a 1 in 1000 chance of something going wrong, but given my experience of the last year, I’ve had genuine fear that my eyesight is on the way out.

It was only this morning when I was able to start seeing the results.

#cataract #cataracts #cataractawareness #interuptedvision #dycp

Painting on show at BEEP Biennial, Elysium Gallery

The BEEP Painting Biennial is themed around music and forgotten pop songs.

Back in May, I submitted a painting which was longlisted, which mean’t they asked me to paint a 7” single cover for “Gone are the songs of yesterday”.

I wasn’t shortlisted but this seven inch painting is on show @elysiumswansea along with the other longlisted “7 single covers and the shortlisted artists. 

@beeppainting #contemporarypainting #elysiumgalleryswansea #interruptedvision #turpscc2122

Open Studios 8-9 June 2024

 
 

Saturday 8th – Sunday 9th June 2024

Arches Studios, Old Cattle Market, Captain's Place, Southampton SO14 3FE

 

This summer, come and explore the dynamic world of The Arches, where creativity and community come together in a truly unique way!

 

It’s that time of the year again!

 

The Arches Residents are thrilled to announce that they will be opening their studio doors once again to welcome the public into their vibrant artist community.

 

This exciting summer weekend will feature a variety of free events and activities, including workshops, exhibitions, and demonstrations, all designed to inspire creativity and enjoyment. In addition, we are delighted to have some incredible local musicians joining us for live performances, and there will be a mouth-watering selection of street-food pop-ups serving up delicious food and drink.

 

Whether you’re an art enthusiast or simply looking for a fun and engaging weekend activity, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. Don’t miss out on this fantastic opportunity to experience the magic of The Arches community!

 

Saturday 8th June: 11 AM – 5 PM

Sunday 9th June: 11 AM – 5 PM

 

In the meantime, stay tuned to our instagram pages @archesstudiossouthampton & @aspacearts as we release more details over the next couple of months.

 

Find out more about our wonderful artists here.

Download the digital version of the Arches Open Studios 2024 Programme HERE

 

CAS Editions: Postcards and Limited Edition Posters now available

Postcards and a limited edition A2 signed poster are available to buy from CAS . The posters are still awaiting delivery from the printers so they are so hot they aren’t even off the press yet, but they are available to pre-order and will be sent out as soon as they are ready.

All proceeds are going to support the organisation’s artistic programming.


#localart #artist #art #exhibition #opencall #artgallery #artoftheday #artistsoninstagram #seeingred #archesstudios #supportartists #artforsale #buyingpaintings #buyingart

2h

New Platform Art

I have been accepted onto the fully funded mentorship programme for artists run by New Platform Art at Clyde and Co. The programme provides support and advice around writing skills, contract law, funding applications and brings together artists to forge new relationships and collaborations. I know many of the talented and skilled artists who have benefited from this course and I’m excited to become a part of it this year.

#newplatformart #clydeandco #artistmentor

CAS Open Open 2024: Seeing Red

I’m delighted to announce that my painting, “Do you know were made from stars?”  Has been selected for the @casartists Open Call: Seeing Red.

This is an exciting exhibition to be a part of.  CAS(Chapel Arts Studios) is a socially engaged arts organisation based in Andover with a gallery space in a derelict chapel in the middle of a cemetery. 

Come and see the work of over 30 incredible artists 

May 18 - June 29

Chapel Art Studios, St Mary's Chapel,

St Mary's Cemetery, Andover, Hampshire SP10 1DP



#opencall #seeingred #archesstudios #supportartists 

Upcoming Exhibition: Material Remains 26-28 April 2024

I’m looking forward to showing a recently completed painting at this group show in Southampton at the end of April.

The show takes place in two shipping containers temporarily erected in Guildhall Square. It will be on display from 12pm - 4pm Friday 26th April until Sunday, with a late showing and Private View party starting at 6pm on Friday evening. Do come down!

20 Southampton artists explore our archaeological past in a new exhibition

Following a successful first exhibition in 2023 by the ZING collective, this year the networking group for artists with connections to Southampton, bring more artists and ideas together in the heart of the city.

A contemporary art exhibition, titled 'Material Remains,' will fill part of the Guildhall Square in Southampton with work by local visual artists from the collective between Friday 26th and Sunday 28th April 2024.

Sparked by an ongoing project where ZING artists are working with Southampton Cultural Services, the exhibition will present a conceptually explorative visual journey into themes surrounding archaeology.

Ongoing visits to the museum stores has allowed ZING artists to explore their collection of thousands of everyday items discovered in the city and uncover stories about their potential owners. The exhibition will include works which take direct influence from the collection, as well as works which more broadly consider archaeological themes.

This new collection of work will be displayed in and around repurposed shipping containers in Guildhall Square and is free and open to all to attend. The exhibition will include artworks in textiles, print, mixed media sculpture, painting, photography, crochet and more.

Richard Henry, Curator of Archaeology, Southampton City Council Cultural Services said: "Southampton has a rich archaeological tapestry with hundreds of thousands of objects within Southampton City Council’s Designated collection. It has been wonderful collaborating with ZING to help uncover new stories about Southampton’s diverse collections celebrating the city’s cultural heritage."

ZING Collective are extremely grateful to Southampton Cultural Services and Richard Henry the Curator of Archaeology who has been working with the artists to make the exhibition possible. The museum stores contain thousands of items which have been dug up in the city over many years. The collaboration has enabled these objects and their stories to be brought back to life and new meanings to be discovered.

ZING Collective is a networking group for artists at any career stage with connections to Southampton. It was set up and is run by ZEST Collective.

Image provided: Material Remains poster designed by Ellen Gillett.

Find out more about ZING: instagram.com/zestinclusivegroup or zestartscollective.com/zing

Find out more about Southampton Cultural Services: www.southampton.gov.uk/arts-heritage

 

Exhibition: Useful Drawings by Eye To Pencil @ Exmouth Market

We have been very busy working on ‘Useful Drawings’, an exhibition of over 130 drawings from a range of disciplines, which opens tonight (30 March) at 6pm in the studio! We are really excited to share this with you all, we’ve had some fantastic submissions and great conversations with the contributors who have come to drop off drawings over the past week. Each drawing is cataloged with a correlating comment by contributors on why it is useful to them. Come and join us for a drink tonight to celebrate the opening!

Opening times:
Fri 31 March & Sat 1 April: 12-6pm
Sun 2 April: 12-4pm

Address: Eye to Pencil Studio, 26 Exmouth Market. EC1R 4QE

Shortlisted for the Royal Academy Summer Show 2023

I’ve been shortlisted for this year’s Royal Academy Summer Show.

After many years of applying this is the first time I have had success.

The next stage is to deliver the painting for judging. It will have about a 1:4 chance of making the exhibiton.

Jackson’s Painting Prize 2023


I’m delighted that my painting “Esophageamania”, 2023 has made it to the long-list for the #jacksonspaintingprize. This is such a pleasant surprise as they received thousands of high quality entries.

This painting is part of my recent series about chaos and order.

You can be added to the prize draw for £150 Jackson’s Gift Voucher by voting for your favourite painting between now and 6th April.

The shortlist will be announced on the 30th of March. 🤞🏻

International Women’s Day Charity Auction

I'm honoured to have work selected for the International Women's Day exhibition curated by @aspacearts. The show features 100 works on paper celebrating inspirational women. All of the works are available for sale via auction, and the money raised will go to @yellowdoorsol, a charity supporting survivors of domestic abuse.⁠
⁠
I made this painting in 2021 when I was looking at the work of Fiona Rae. I have to write a bit about the work so I said the following:⁠
⁠
“Fiona Rae is a contemporary British Painter who rose to fame during the 1990s. She creates energetic, rhythmic, abstract paintings and is obsessive about the nature of the marks she makes and how different materials make the paint respond. It is a fascination I relate to. This is one of many paintings I have made trying to capture the essence of her lyrical mark-making. The marks come together in a painting that works like a visual poem, or a piece of music.”⁠
⁠
You can browse all the work and bid in the silent auction via this link. (Bidding opens this evening and runs until April 21st.⁠

Exhibition: Material Presence - November 2022

A cohort from the Turps Correspondence Course of 2022 put on a group show at Fitzrovia Gallery, London. I was excited to show my sculptural painting, “Black Bird” as part of the show.