Ashleigh Beattie

Manchester

I am a Zimbabwean born Visual Artist working mainly in Sculpture and Installation. My work explores themes, of belonging and displacement.

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I am a Zimbabwean artist based in Manchester. My practice explores themes of displacement and belonging as a migrant living in the diaspora. I work mainly in sculpture and installation, repurposing everyday materials such as newspapers and tin cans. These humble materials are embedded with meaning, memories and stories.

Through my work these materials are transformed and given permanence. This repurposing characterises my practice and draws from my childhood in Zimbabwe, where nothing is thrown away - everything is repurposed.

Perambulator

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'A Mother and her children', working title, 2023

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Life Jackets, Newspaper, varnish & wadding, 2016-2022.

Musika Market Place Detail 2025 Wild Clay metal and newspaper Detail 20 cm photo Ashleigh Beattie 1782248573

Musika Market Place Detail 2025 Wild Clay metal and newspaper Detail 20 cm photo Ashleigh Beattie 1782248573

'Musika' Market place

Perambulator

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Art made in Lock down

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'A Mother and her children', working title, 2023

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Ashleigh Beattie, Tin Boats, 2016. Food tins rusted salt water.

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Life Jackets, Newspaper, varnish & wadding, 2016-2022.

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Zimbabwean Dollar notes

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Beacon Valley

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‘In Search of the Promised Land’

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A Land flowing with Milk and Honey, 2009

Currently Showing

2 - 29 June 2025 'Perambulator', part of the Horizons festival at HOME, Manchester

14 Feb -31 May 2025 'Musika ', The giving tree, Manchester.

Current Consultancy

2024-25 Lowry Artist advisory group, The Lowry, Salford

Workshops

2025 May 'WAST Horizons project', HOME, Manchester

2025 March 'Speak Up' Programme with Lowry and National Theatre , Salford

2023 October Temporary shelters, Leeds City of Culture 2023, Henry Moore Institute, Leeds

2023 August Temporary Shelters, Henry Moore Institute, Leeds

2022 October Teacher CPD, Sculpting Landscapes, Henry Moore Institute, Leeds

2022 August Sculpting landscapes, Henry Moore Institute, Leeds

Higher Education

2005-2009 2:1 Bachelors of Fine Art (HONS) University of Cumbria, U.K.

Group Exhibitions

2021 Sep HOME: Manchester Open Art Exhibition, Manchester

2019 Mar Rocking The Boat, Creative Recycling Gallery, Chorlton, Manchester

2014 Mar The Luck Of Edenhall, The Old Fire Station, Carlisle

2010 Nov The Meeting Point, National Gallery, Harare, Zimbabwe

2009 Jul Summer Exhibition, Cecil Street Projects, Carlisle, England

2009 Jul Summer Exhibition, Bank Gallery, Carlisle, England

2009 Jun This side of Somewhere, University of Cumbria, Carlisle, England

2008 Dec Love in the Asylum, Wasps Studios, Glasgow, Scotland

2008 Sep Liquidizer, Vault Gallery, Lancaster, England

2008 Feb Seconds Out- Redefined, University of Cumbria, Carlisle, England

Solo Exhibitions

2025 May 'Musika', The Giving Tree, Manchester

2016 Jun In search of the Promised Land, Alexandria Library, Manchester

2010 May In search of the Promised Land, Carlisle Cathedral, Carlisle, England

Grants/ Awards/ Residencies

2007-2009 University of Cumbria, Undergraduate Scholarship

2009 Undergraduate Arts Achievement Award, University of Cumbria

Commissions

2013 Nov Illustration for cover of GWC Annual Report, Cape Town, South Africa

Reviews/ Press

https://www.castlefieldgallery.co.uk/castlefield-gallery-associates-spotlight-ashleigh-beattie/

https://axisweb.org/blog/take-me-back-to-when-the-world-made-sense

Featured in

Ducky Elford

Ducky Elford

Curated

Take Me Back To When The World Made Sense

By JC Candanedo

Helen

Helen

Curated

Highlights: 22 - 28 June, 2026

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