Paul Evans
My work varies from detailed, representational drawings to visceral, 'animalistic' paintings, and ranges dramatically in scale from intimate paintings on board to monumental works on paper. My artistic practice encompasses a number of different styles of drawing and painting and a variety of creative strategies including collaboration with poets (including Gregory Award winners Chris Jones and Matthew Clegg), graphic designers (including Humanstudio) and leading academics. I use this complex repertoire of means to explore our physical and emotional relationship with nature - the complexity of this subject matter demands a complex response.
Working in collaboration has enabled me to extend my visual vocabulary and reinforce the conceptual framework for my work. I have also sought to test the relationship between ideas of illustration and text - using poetic imagery in conjunction with abstract paintings - and through references to the graphic language of biological textbooks.
My recent work has included a number of high profile creative public engagement projects for Cardiff University, The University of Manchester and Sheffield University.
Outstanding achievements so far include: winner of the Eyestorm Gallery Award for painting (2007), selection for Leverhulme Trust Residency, Cardiff University (2011), winner of the National Coordinating Centre for Public Engagement ‘Engage’ Prize (2014).
2023 Rust Never Sleeps Sci-Art public engagement programme addressing 'how paint works', collaboration with Scientists from The University of Manchester/The University of Sheffield SusCoRD (Sustainable Coatings by Rational Design) Biodiversity ABC commission for The University of Sheffield Biofest Living Layers creative heritage project working with OUTLINE Collective and communities in central Rotherham, Brinsworth, Bramley and Rawmarsh (Arts Council England funded)
2022 CP Studio: Cabinets of Curiosity artist’s residency/exhibition in Clifton Park Museum, working with six early career Rotherham-based artists to produce art connecting climate change with heritage (Rotherham-RELOAD funded) CAER Connected (ongoing) development of portable artwork representing contemporary ‘hillfort societies’ in low socio-economic status communities in Wales and Shropshire LIFE GAME Commission for Festival of the Mind 2022 – development of playable artwork and filmed ‘future eulogies’ to rainforest dwelling endangered species
2021 The Virtual Ark development of VR environment featuring endangered species with Cardiff University and University of Nottingham (Arts Council England Funded) Drawing from Nature workshop for Sheffield Museums, Abstract Painting workshop for Museum Youth, Drawing Masterclass Live Zoom workshop for Creative Cardiff. Harvesting Light VR film featuring quantum solar cell featured in Movement: Spring Issue of NYC based SciArt Magazine
2020 The Virtual Ark development of proof of concept for VR environment featuring endangered species with Cardiff University and University of Nottingham (Wellcome Trust Funded)
2019-20 CAER Heritage Hidden Hillfort creative director/project artist (HLF funded) Harvesting Light development of new VR film featuring quantum solar cell, and extensive programme of creative public engagement, for Cambridge University and University of Sheffield Department of Physics and Astronomy (STFC funded)
2018 -19 CAER Studio lead artist for ambitious programme of heritage themed art activities for Cardiff University CAER Heritage Project (AHRC funded)
2018 Unweaving the Rainbow programme of creative public engagement for University of Sheffield Department of Physics and Astronomy (STFC funded) Protest workshop for Sheffield Museums Life Drawing with Leonardo public workshop for Sheffield Museums Stanage Volumes performance drawing event with Mark Goodwin for The Kendal Mountain Literature Festival Iridescence VR installation developed in collaboration with Professor Richard Jones FRS for The University of Sheffield Festival of the Mind
2017 Making Ways (Vice Chair - artist’s panel) an ambitious 3-year project developing, demonstrating and celebrating exceptional visual art produced in Sheffield. Ways of Drawing (with Steve Pool) workshop exploring visual methods for academics from University of Sheffield Special Visiting Lecturer Sheffield Hallam University
2016 Homage to the Sphere VR installation created in collaboration with Professor Richard Jones FRS for The University of Sheffield Festival of the Mind Virtual Robotics series of workshops with University of Sheffield University researchers and pupils from Rawmarsh Community school, South Yorkshire Thinkaboutbees University of Sheffield Arts Enterprise project The Model Village schools workshops for the Cardiff University CAER Heritage Project, culminating in the production of an animated film – featured at The Utopia Fair Somerset House, London (AHRC funded)
2015 Virtual Life Science: series of workshops with University of Sheffield Life Science researchers and pupils from Rawmarsh Community school, South Yorkshire Studio COCOA: Artist in Residence in Castlegate, Sheffield
2014 Virtual Social Science: development of virtual gallery of artwork based on social science research with pupils from Rawmarsh Community school, South Yorkshire. The Iron Wheel community artwork developed with Sheffield schools (commission for Tour de France Grande Depart 2014) Connected Communities Festival Interventions for CAER Heritage Project three interconnected exhibitions/performance elements including ‘The Virtual Dig’, banner procession and pop-up interactive exhibition Shared Ground (with Jon Harrison) film connecting communities based around hillforts in South Wales, South Yorkshire and Aberdeenshire Gaze-Shift AV installation created in collaboration with Professor Peter Redgrave for The University of Sheffield Festival of the Mind
2013 The HEART of Cardiff creative mapping and timeline activities for CAER Heritage Project (CHP) (for Cardiff University – AHRC funded) Pathway to the Past CHP mural project with young people from Pethybridge Road PRU, North Ely, Cardiff (HLF funded) Poverty Detectives cartoon and puppet theatre/film workshop for schools (for Cardiff University and The Glamorgan Archive) The Mind in the Cave drawing workshop for The Wellcome Trust Street Fair, National Neuroscience Conference, The Barbican, London and for Danny Boyle’s SHUFFLE Film Festival, Mile End, London. Special Visiting Lecturer Sheffield Hallam University
2012 Tribal Logo CHP eco-graffiti workshop for schools based around Caerau Hill fort (for Cardiff University – AHRC funded) Self Portrait & My Family drawing, painting and modelling workshop for schools based on Andy Warhol and The Family in British Art exhibitions (for Sheffield Museums) Animal Magic animation/installation commission for The University of Sheffield’s Festival of the Mind created in collaboration with Professor Tim Birkhead FRS
2011 Hunter-gatherer eco-graffiti workshop for Fairbridge Centre, Cardiff (collaboration with Cardiff University School of History, Archaeology and Religion) What’s the Worst that Could Happen & Mark Making Acrylic painting and drawing workshops for schools linked to John Martin and Katerina Šedá exhibitions (for Sheffield Museums and Tate Britain)
2010 Leverhulme Trust Artist in Residence Cardiff University School of History, Archaeology and Religion Marking Time in Magura: community drawing workshop for local people and an international team of artists and archaeologists, Magura, Romania for Cardiff University (EU funded)
2008 - 09 Future Animals collaborative workshops for schools with Cardiff University Department of Archaeology and National Museums Wales with Professor Mike Bruford and Professor Jacqui Mulville (funded by Welsh Beacons)
2006 - 08 Associate Lecturer (part time), Sheffield Hallam University Drawing for Everyone 8-week adult drawing course (for Sheffield Museums) Drawing a Successful Neighbourhood: brainstorming/visualisation session (for Sheffield City Council)
2005 Left Vertebrate Graphics in January 2005 to concentrate on career as a professional artist.
1994 to 2005 Founding partner and Creative Director Vertebrate Graphics Duties and responsibilities covered all creative aspects of the business