Amanda Wallwork
My practice is concerned with archaeology, geology and a continuing enquiry into landscape. Informed by a process of immersion, extraction and abstraction my work is a form of mapping or shorthand for a collection of ideas and ideologies, symbolising an activity in time and place. Underpinning all the work is extensive research, including dialogue with earth scientists and investigative walking to thoroughly understand the geological make up and formation of the landscapes I work with. I am interested in the underlying factors that determine how our land has been used and shaped, how we move through it, the impact we have and the traces we leave behind. My work attempts to reveal what is not always immediately apparent, what can’t always be seen on the surface Much of my work originates from investigating the specific landscapes of Dorset and West Cornwall and refers to the faint marks in the earth, visible only from the air, that reveal the sites of early human habitation, traces that form a readable map laying out clues to the story to be unravelled. Walking is an essential part of my process, encompassing the physical and imagined aspects of the past and present. More recent works go below ground exploring the geology beneath. The work in this series references the term ‘deep time’ used by geologists to describe the concept of the vast unimaginable periods of time represented by geological timescales. Homing in on the physicality and colour of the exposed rock face of the Dorset coast and the ‘colour’ of time as symbolised by geological mapping, these works convey a sense of the age old, all knowing of the rock beneath our feet and the concept of these slowly formed layers acting as compressed data stores recording everything.
Artist and curator.
Focused on painting since 1998 after an early career as a successful children's book illustrator.
Exhibits widely, including Belgrave Gallery St Ives and Art First, London.
Work regularly selected for the Bournemouth University Loan Collection and is held in many private collections. Member of RWA.
CURRENT PROJECTS
Current practice is based around a series of research projects with associated exhibitions and commissions. With the broad theme of a continuing enquiry into landscape they focus on investigating the archaeology and geology of place – specifically areas of Dorset and West Cornwall.
2009 – 2012: Mapping The Jurassic Coast - part of Jurassic Coast Arts Programme
Investigating the archaeology and geology of the Dorset & East Devon coastline.
A collaboration with artist Jeremy Gardiner.
Supported by Arts Council England research grant.
First stage work exhibited a linear panoramic installation of painted panels mapping strategic archaeological sites and underlying geologies of the coastline plus associated research material.
Mapping the Jurassic Coast was exhibited:
2009: Dorset County Museum, Dorchester
2009: Bournemouth University, Atrium Gallery
2009: Black Swan Arts, Frome
2010: Lyme Regis as part of the Fossil Festival
Second phase work continuing the exploration of the coastline in more detail involved large scale multiple block works focusing on the physicality of the coastal geology – accompanied by large format monoprints by Jeremy Gardiner.
Coast Unearthed was exhibited:
2012: Allsop Gallery, Bridport Arts Centre and featured as part of the Earth Festival - a 2012 Cultural Olympiad project.
2013: Ongoing research projects
The Colour of Time: Investigating geological mapping systems
Deep Time: Expressing geological timescales
Mapping the Ridgeway: Revealing the lost sites of this significant archaeological area
Time Walking: Walking the old ways, exploring ancient tracks and byways determined by the geology of an area.
2007 – 2013: Lost Ways – The Tinners Way
A series of work investigating the ancient mining transport routes of West Penwith.
Trackways dating from prehistoric times that cross the high granite moorland and were once the main route to transport precious metals mined from the wild coastal region around Cape Cornwall to the relatively sheltered shipping points of St Ives and Mount’s Bay. Replaced now by modern roads on lower ground the scars worn on the landscape through years of use are now fading fast. Using pigments and powdered metal on a plaster surface, reflecting the raw rocky landscape and the mineral deposits in the earth, the work reveals the hidden and lost elements of this landscape and form a historic mapping and immersive experience of site.
Work exhibited:
2007: Art First, Cork Street, London. Solo show
2008: Brewhouse, Taunton, Journeyland
2009: Belgrave St Ives ‘Lost Ways’ Solo show
2010: Gurnards Head, Zennor ‘Land Marks’
2008: Art & Archaeology Study Gallery of Modern Art, Poole.
Exhibition with artist Brian Graham and accompanying seminar with artists and archaeologists.
2006: Marks in Time Black Swan, Frome
Arts Council England supported project working with artists Michael Fairfax and Jacy Wall.
Three artists comparing process and the influence of time in the concept and making of work.
2003/4: Haunt part of the Timeline Project at Sherborne House
Artist in Residence responding to the history of the 18th century Sherborne House and associated buildings, which date from, late Tudor times. Project included creation of a body of work and curation of an exhibition of work by artists inspired by the presence of the past imprinted on a place.
SELECTED EXHIBITIONS
2013: RWA, Bristol
2013: Walford Mill Crafts, Wimborne ‘Mapping the Way’
2012: RWA, Bristol
2012: Belgrave St Ives ‘Winter Exhibition’
2012: Allsop Gallery, Bridport Arts Centre, ‘Coast Unearthed’ - with Jeremy Gardiner
2012: Belgrave St Ives ‘Summer Exhibition’ mixed show
2012: Shirley Crowther Contemporary Art Anniversary Show
2011: Belgrave St Ives ‘Winter Exhibition’ mixed show
2011: Shirley Crowther Contemporary Art ‘Line and Surface’ mixed show
2011: Gallery Upstairs Henley-in-Arden, ‘Nature Raw and Wild’ mixed show
2010: Lyme Regis ‘Mapping the Jurassic Coast’ - with Jeremy Gardiner
2010: Gurnards Head, Zennor ‘Land Marks’ Two person show
2010: The Art Stable, Kelly Ross Hambledon, Iron + Stone Mixed show
2010: The London Art Fair, Islington (Represented by Shirley Crowther)
2009: Belgrave St Ives ‘Lost Ways’ Solo show
2009: Black Swan Arts, Frome ‘Mapping the Jurassic Coast- with Jeremy Gardiner
2009: Bournemouth University, Atrium Gallery ‘Mapping the Jurassic Coast’
2009: Dorset County Museum ‘Mapping the Jurassic Coast- with Jeremy Gardiner
2008: Study Gallery of Modern Art, Poole. ‘Art and Archaeology’- with Brian Graham
2008: Art London, art fair Chelsea (represented by Bertram Enterprises)
2008: Walford Mill, Wimborne, Wallworks – Three generations of makers
2008: Brewhouse, Taunton, Journeyland - new work based on lost tracks
2007: Art First, Cork Street, London. Solo show
2007: Art London, art fair Chelsea (represented by Bertram Enterprises)
2007: Belgrave Gallery St Ives
2007: Cambridge Art Fair (Represented by Shirley Crowther Contemporary Art)
2007: Glasgow Art Fair (represented by Bertram Enterprises)
2007: Foss Fine Art, London - Earth, Land, Sea
2007: Belgrave Gallery, St Ives - Postcard from St Ives group show
2006: Art London, art fair (represented by Bertram Enterprises)
2006: Black Swan, Frome. Marks in Time
2006: Chelsea Art Fair (Represented by Shirley Crowther Contemporary Art)
2005: Belgrave Gallery, St Ives. Group show
2005: Bettles Gallery, Ringwood
2005: Harlequin Gallery, Greenwich
2005: Walford Mill Crafts Dorset- Landmarks
2005: WarmWalls Gallery Cheshire
2004: Belgrave Gallery, St Ives. Group show
2003/4: Haunt Sherborne House Artist in Residence - creation of work and curation of an exhibition inspired by the presence of the past imprinted on a place.
2003: Old Warehouse Gallery, Dorchester.
2003: Bournemouth University Atrium Gallery
2003: Blyth Gallery, Manchester. Echoes of Colour, exhibition with Carolyne Kardia
2003: Rope Store Studio Gallery, Nailsworth. Making Tracks
2002: Meeting House, Ilminster, Somerset. Groundwork, with Brian Rice and Andrew Crane New work experimenting with new materials,
2002: Sherborne House, Dorset. Site, two 13m long banners for site specific exhibition.
2001: Harlequin Gallery, Greenwich, London.
2001: The Bus Stop Gallery Work specially produced to fit format of clear perspex cube.
2000: Sherborne House - Patterns of the Past Brian Rice, Jane Day, Warwick Parker.
1999: Off the Shelf Sherborne Contemporary Arts Supermarket, Sherborne House.
1999: Bridgwater Arts Centre- An exhibition with ceramics by father, Alan Wallwork.
COMMISSIONS, COMPETITIONS, RESIDENCIES
2014: Elected as member of the RWA
2009: Selected for PVA LabCulture and SALT Residency
2008/9: Selected for 10th Anniversary Art Loan Collection, Bournemouth University
2008: Awarded Arts Council research grant to work with archaeology dept at Dorset County museum to inform new body of work on archaeology of Dorset coast.
2007/8: Selected for Art Loan Collection, Bournemouth University
2006: Selected for inclusion in 50 Wessex Artists, Book, published November 2006
2006/7: Selected for Art Loan Collection, Bournemouth University
2003/4: Selected for Art Loan Collection, Bournemouth University
2003/4: Residency Sherborne House
2002/3: Commission to design screen for Baptist Church in Yeovil, working with furniture designers Illingworth & Partridge.
1999: South Bank Banner Design Competition: Runner Up.
1999: Commission for series of paintings for use on contemporary stationary range.
CURATION AND VISUAL ARTS DEVELOPMENT
In addition to my own work as an artist I am extremely active in the areas of curation and visual arts development and have developed, contributed to and supported many initiatives that provide opportunities for artists and audiences as well as strategic development and advocacy for the visual arts.
Visual Arts South West: Member of VASW Steering Group working to support the visual arts in the south west.
Big Picture: Founder of Big Picture a visual arts advocacy group working with Dorset based arts organisations.
Sherborne House Arts: Long term Artistic Director and Curator for Sherborne House developing many projects exhibitions, talks, seminars and events. Creating numerous artist opportunities and presenting high quality visual art to south west audiences.
b-side: Curator for b-side commissioning site responsive work for a biennial festival of contemporary art.