Andrew Coomber
Holywell
Landscape has always been the primary inspiration for my work in 2 and 3 dimensions.
In 2013 I designed and made the Bardic Crown for the Denbigh National Eisteddfod and in 2016 the crown for the Urdd Eisteddfod in Flint which had the theme of ‘Horizons’
In many ways the Denbigh Crown was a seminal moment in my work. During the visual research undertaken in the Vale of Clwyd I had the opportunity to fly along the Clwydian hills in a light aircraft. The different perspective offered by this experience kindled a thought process informing my study of the relationship of man to the land. The horizon-less and revelatory view offered engagement with imagery and marks created by man over multi-layered time periods. The ‘disappearing ‘ horizon also offered a route to semi-abstraction of shape and form. Reference is made to geology, engineering, agriculture, archaeology, spiritual and religious belief etc
I am always keen to blur the boundaries between ‘fine’ and ‘applied’ art and am currently working on the development of the above themes in two and three dimensions i.e. painting and wearable / non-wearable mixed media objects. There is considerable emphasis on ‘painting’ on aluminium using anodising and dying techniques developed for the Denbigh Crown
Influences - The first inspiration I can remember as a child in Edinburgh was my great uncle the painter Adam Bruce Thomson. Then many other figures in various 'Scottish Schools', McTaggart, Eardley, Huston etc. Globally - most of the cultures of Japan and Africa, Sutherland, Moore, the extraordinarily prolific and multi skilled Riera i Arago from Barcelona. In 'smithing - from Europe - Hiroshi Suzuki, Kevin O'Dwyre, Gerd Rothman, Dorothy Hogg, Michael Rowe. From the USA: Donald Friedlich, Daniel Jocz, Tom Joyce, Rachelle Thiewes and thousands more!
Career path = Studied silversmithing and jewellery, painting and sculpture at Edinburgh College of Art, graduating in 1972. I have run studio / workshops in Edinburgh, Manchester and now North Wales producing 3D objects, jewellery and painting for exhibition and to commission. Previous corporate clients include BP Chemicals, The University of Manchester, Granada TV, The BBC, The Papal Visit Committee 1982, The Guardian Group, Menter a Busnes, Farmers' Union of Wales {Eisteddfod Crown), Harper Adams University and numerous private individuals.
Taught, written and managed applied/fine art programmes at undergraduate and postgraduate level. Considerable experience in writing/delivering Professional Practice modules for such programmes. Latterly, programme leader for Jewellery/Metalwork at North East Wales Institute during which my own work was virtually non existent. Resigned from full time teaching 2002 to spend more time in my studio.
Current Posts:
Self employed artist / designer / maker
Part-time and visiting lecturer / teacher / facilitator
Qualifications:
1989 North Staffordshire Polytechnic - in service course - CAD three dimensional design
1971-72 Moray House College of Education, Edinburgh - Secondary Teaching Certificate
1971 Post Graduate Travelling Scholarship to Scandinavia
1967-71 Edinburgh College of Art - Diploma in Design Crafts (silversmithing and jewellery)
1960-67 George Heriot’s School, Edinburgh
Previous Posts:
2008- 2010 Short Course Tutor (Contemporary Silversmithing) West Dean College
2002- 2006 Part time Core Mentor for Cultural Enterprise (N.E.Wales)
Supporting, consulting and advising arts based businesses in North and Mid Wales
1990-2002 Senior Lecturer, Head of Department, Programme Leader Jewellery / Metalwork, North Wales School of Art and Design, North East Wales Institute, Wrexham. Now Glyndwr University.
Managing, program writing, teaching and research including responsibility for Professional Practice delivery across all aspects of Art and Design at BTEC HND, B.A. (Hons), M.A.levels.
1985-90 Lecturer - Jewellery / Metalwork / Business Studies
NEWI College of Art and Design f/t
1984-85 Lecturer BTEC HND wood, metal, ceramics - Preston Polytechnic p/t
1982-84 Tutor in Silversmithing and Jewellery - College of Craft Education, York Summer School p/t
1982 Visiting Lecturer and Course Advisory Panel member - Wrexham College of Art and Design Technology p/t
1979-84 Lecturer B.A. (Hons) Three Dimensional Design and Business Studies, Manchester Polytechnic p/t
1972-73 Teacher of Art - Blackburn Academy, West Lothian
Selected Exhibitions:
2016 A Different View - solo - Theatr Clwyd
2016 A Different View - solo - Carraigeworks Denbigh
2010 Venue Cymru. Llandudno
2009 Platform Gallery Clitheroe. Bowland – An Inspirational Landscape
2008- Helfa Gelf, various venues
2004- Flat Cat Gallery. Lauder (paintings)
2003- Ruthin Craft Centre (jewellery)
1994-03 Design Yard , Dublin
1982-94 Electrum Gallery, London
1981-85 The South Manchester Gallery
1979-84 Dazzle, Manchester
1978-83 The Bluecoat Display Centre, Liverpool
1977-83 Artizana, Prestbury
1978-82 The Red Rose Guild, Manchester
1975-79 Primavera, Cambridge
1974-78 The Ian Clarkson Gallery, Edinburgh
Commission Clients include:
The Harlech Torc, Festival of Fire and Water, Visit Harlech 2018
Crown, Urdd Eisteddfod, Flint 2016
Harper Adams University - Ceremonial Mace and presentation paperknife for HRH Princess Ann on her installation as University Chancellor November 2013
Farmers Union of Wales, National Eisteddfod Crown 2013
Glyndwr University – Ceremonial Mace
Arts and Business Wales – 10 annual awards
Birmingham City Museum – Renaissance West Midlands Awards
Countryside Council for Wales – Bronze interpretation panel, Snowdonia
Menter a Busnes, Wales – National Eisteddfod Awards
Granada Television – Numerous awards and commemorative pieces
The Manchester Evening News and Guardian Group, Annual Theatre Awards
The B.B.C. - Numerous awards and commemorative pieces
B.P. Chemicals, Grangemouth – Gold civic regalia
The University of Manchester – Numerous commemorative pieces
The Papal Visit Committee 1982 – Ordination Chalice, Heaton Park Mass
The Manchester Evening News and Guardian Group – Numerous awards
The Huntly House Museum, Edinburgh – Commemorative centrepiece
and numerous small businesses and private individuals
Business Experience:
2002 - Self employed artist / maker working to commission and exhibition in the fields of metal/silversmithing, jewellery, sculpture, painting and design
1977-83 Self employed running full-time studio workshop in Piccadilly, Manchester concentrating mostly on commissioned work and commemorative pieces and some exhibition work
Master Craftsman under the Crafts Council Apprentice Training Scheme
Craftsman / collaborator with Ian Hamilton Finlay
Committee Member of the Red Rose Guild of Designer Craftsmen
Founder Chairman of North West Craftsmen
North West Arts Regional Arts Association - Crafts Advisory Panel member
1973-77 Self employed running full-time studio / workshop near Edinburgh designing and producing contemporary jewellery and silverware / metalware
Master Craftsman under the Scottish Development Agency Apprentice Training Scheme
Other Experience:
Lead artist Denbigh Community Mursal Project in conjuction with 'A Different View'
2013 Festival Director, Ysceifiog Festival – Festival workshop leader, mosaics – Funded by the Arts Council of Wales, Cadwyn Clwyd and Flintshire CC
2008-9 Sponsored project to lead of a team of staff and students at North Wales School of Art and Design commissioned to design and make a new ceremonial mace for the newly inaugurated Glyndwr University in Wrexham.
2007 Leader of a team of staff and students at North Wales School of Art and Design commissioned to design and make a new ceremonial mace for North East Wales Institute of Higher Education
2003 ‘Beauty is in the Eye of the Beholder’, Association of Contemporary Jewellery International Conference, Manchester
2001 - 05 Executive Committee member, Association of Contemporary Jewellery
2000 Sense of Wonder', Association of Contemporary Jewellery International conference, Birmingham U.K.
1998 Society of North American Goldsmiths conference, Albuquerque, New Mexico
1997 Third European Conference of Crafts and Small Business, Milan
1997 Society of North American Goldsmiths conference, Boston, Mass.USA
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