Bev Broadhead
Bev Broadhead is a visual artist and an active member of her community. Living in a rural, coastal town, much of Bev’s work is influenced by psychogeography and situationist theory. ‘The faster we walk, the more ground we lose.’(Iain Sinclair).
Bev’s studio practice proposes a visual language that swerves between abstraction and representation. Forms are often semi-recognisable.
Recent work focuses primarily on grids and repeating patterns that go astray, both in paint and stitch.
Bev is curious to show environmental relationships, be they physical, psychological, or political. She tends to highlight interdependence, frailties, and imperfections as an antidote to success driven endeavour.
Bev has a first class honours BA in painting, and an MA in Fine Art. An advanced certificate in teaching art in the primary classroom. She was a founder member of Paint Club East, and on the steering committee of Norwich Outpost artist led gallery space.
Bev was instrumental in establishing a local organisation, Cromer ArtSpace. She curated Chalk*Clay*Sand*Salt - an exhibition of over 30 works in Cromer Community Centre as part of the art festival in 2021.
Bev is involved in a Campaign for Mental Health Services in North Norfolk.
She plays a part in regional organising with the Norfolk and Suffolk branch of Artists’ Union England (AUE) and is a delegate in North Norfolk Trade Union Council. An ongoing concern is the precarious nature of artists as workers, and how to overcome this.
Through involvement in the local foodbank, Bev brought together a small group of crafters to form Darn It! – meeting weekly, it aims to share waste preventing ideas, up-cycling, and mental well-being through creative activity.
At the same time as having an art practice, Bev was a T.E.F.L teacher in Spain, a Primary school teacher, a Family Learning tutor, and ran her own workshops for adults and young people.
Bev is a 'declarer' with Culture Declares Emergency eastern hub.
Bev is on Instagram as @bev.broadhead.1
Education
2011 Norwich University College of the Arts, MA Fine Art
2007 Norwich University College of the Arts, BA Hons Fine Art Painting, First Class
2001 University of East Anglia, Norfolk – Advanced Certificate in Education and Development – Teaching Art in the Primary Classroom
1992 University of East Anglia, Postgraduate Certificate in education
1985 Reading University, BA Hons History of Art and Italian
Group Exhibitions
2024 Active Silence, co-created exhibition in a domestic setting
2023 Love is the , 650 years of Julian of Norwich. St Stephens Church, Norwich
2022 Unconsumed, Norwich Shoe Factory
2022 ING Discerning Eye, Mall Galleries, London
2021 Weathering The Yare Gallery, Great Yarmouth
2021 Power Up! The Green Fuse Collective, Norwich Shoe Factory
2019, Interfaces, Nunnsyard, Norwich
2017, Letting Go, Nunnsyard, Norwich
2016, Why one stroke when a hundred will do? Nunnsyard, Norwich.
2015 Fabric Warehouse, Coast in the City.
2013 Residency Blickling Hall, Norfolk
2013 The Cut, Halesworth
2012 Here is where we meet, residency and exhibition Queen of Hungary Project Space, Aylsham, UK
2012 Threadneedle Prize for Painting Selection Exhibition, London
2012 Islington art Factory, Stray, London
2011 CASAF, Does paradise exist? Tourist Information Centre, Cromer, Norfolk
2011 NUCA, MA Final Show, A Game of Three Halves
2011 Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts, The Late Shift, Displacement.
2010 Stew, Future Perfect Group Show
2010 Unit 5 Open Studios
2009 Norwich Arts Centre, Artists’ Platform, Wasps in the Apple
2008 Outpost Members Show Kunstwerk Bazarre
2008 Unit 5 Group Show Fives – recent paint-drawings
2008 Unit 5 Other/Other/Other, Kiss Me Quick video MSN performance
2007 Outpost, Norwich, performance with George Sadotti Another Ring
2006 Gresham’s School, Holt, In the Open
2006 Norwich University College of the Arts, 2 Headed Monster
2006 Portsmouth Festival of Film and New Media,
SixtySecondFilm, Gretel Goes walking…
Solo Projects
2017 - 2018 Residency Radar Museum, Neatisthead
2018 Paint Cello, Belfry Arts Centre, Overstrand
2014 Space Invaders, Nunn's Yard, Norwich
2011 NUCA, Pass, Performance
2010 Cromer and Sheringham Arts Festival, Cromer Station Postcard @ Industrihousse
2008 Outpost, Norwich, performance Meeting/Play
2007 Norwich University College of the Arts,The Land That Time Forgot
2006 Special Project Fund Award, Berlin Trip : Lost
Publications
Broadhead, Bev, A Postcard From Cromer Train Station, a collaborative postcard project, Blurb Inc., 2010
