Sharon Baker
My practice engages with printmaking processes and responds to the urban and natural landscape and how people affect, influence and change it: what they value and what they discard. I often celebrate the mundane and ubiquitous in our manufactured world.
I create work using fragments collected over time from a photograph, magazine cutting or scrap of fabric. I am drawn to the close-up, abstract elements of familiar objects or unusual juxtapositions of shapes, reflections, text and colour. I produce work in series; my work from different years has different styles depending on my subject matter and processes.
My work has been shown in national competitions and in shows across the UK, including in the house of Commons, and in Europe. I am the winner of the Westmorland Landscape Prize 2019 and in 2022 was awarded a residency at the Grafikwerkstatt Dresden by the Coventry-Dresden Arts Exchange, funded by the City of Dresden.
My creative practice informs my work as a freelance arts facilitator. I deliver arts experiences with people from all walks of life.
I studied Fine Art at the University of Wolverhampton, completing a BA Honours degree in 1992. I spent time in Paris, France painting outdoor murals before moving back to the UK. I gained my Master of Arts in Fine Art from Coventry University in 1999.
My work has been shown in national print competitions and in exhibitions across the UK and Europe and displayed in the House of Commons. In 2019 I was the first prize winner of the inaugural Westmorland Landscape Prize and, at the Derby Print Open, the St Cuthbert’s Mill Prize. In 2022 I undertook a Printmaking Residency at the Grafikwerkstatt Dresden, funded by the City of Dresden and selected by the Coventry/Dresden Arts Exchange.
I am a freelance artist and arts educator. I am an Associate Tutor, History of Art at the University of Warwick and an Associate of Dementia Pathfinders C.I.C. a not-for-profit social enterprise providing learning opportunities, resources and services, to enable people with dementia and their families to live with hope, creativity and meaning. I am a director of Make It Better C.I.C. an not-for-profit social enterprise supporting communities to live well through the arts.
Awards
Printmaking Residency Award: A month at the Grafikwerkstatt, Dresden, awarded by the Coventry/Dresden Arts Exchange- March 2022
Winner of the Westmorland Landscape Prize 2019
Winner of the St Cuthbert's Mill Print Prize at the Derby Print Open 2019
Solo & Group Shows
2023-4 Mini Maxi Print Berlin 23/24 Galleri Heike Arndt DK Berlin
2023- International Original Print Exhibition IOPE 23 Bankside Gallery, London
2023-Tarpey Open, Tarpey Gallery, Castle Donnington
2023-Derby Print Open 2023, Banks Mill Studios, Derby
2023- Coventry Open 2023, Herbert Art Gallery & Museum.
2023-UASB Group Show- Purple Gallery, Bournville, Birmingham
2023-Worcester Open 23 -Climate Change Edition
2022-The Rugby Open 2022, Rugby Museum & Art Gallery, Rugby
2022-Teeside Print Prize 2022 Tees Valley Arts, Middlesbrough
2022- Woolwich Contemporary Print Fair, London.
2022- Leamington Spa Open Exhibition 2022, Royal Pump Rooms, Leamington Spa
2022- Derby Print Open 2022
2022-West Midlands Open, New Art Gallery Walsall.
2022-Dresden Residents 2022 #1 Altefeurwache Loschwitz, Dresden, Germany.
2022-RBSA Print Prize Exhibition, Royal Birmingham Society of Artists Gallery, Birmingham
2021-Ty Pawb Print International, Wrexham, Wales.
2021-Worcester Open 2021, The Art house, Worcester.
2021-‘Small Works’ Coventry Dresden Arts Exchange LTB Showrooms, Coventry.
2021-Tarpey Open 2021, Tarpey Gallery, Castle Donnington.
2021- ‘Figurative Art Now’ Mall Galleries London, Federation of British Artists
2021-Wells Art Contemporary 2021 Wells Cathedral, Wells, Somerset.
2021-Qube Open 2021 'Shape & Colour' Qube Gallery,Oswestry.
2021-Figurative Art Now, Mall Galleries & Federation of British Artists Online.
2021-Transmission of Knowlwdge,Rendez-Vous Aux Jardins, Cairnhill, Rioux-Matin, France.
2021-Ikon for Artists, Ikon Gallery Birmingham.
2021-Teeside Print Prize at Palace Hub, Tees Valley Arts Middlesbrough.
2020-Rugby Open 2020 at Rugby Art Gallery & Museum
2020-The ING Discerning Eye 2020 Online Exhibition
2020-11th Coventry Open 2020 Herbert Museum & Art Gallery, Coventry
2020-'Love Letters' at Gallerytop, Derbyshire
2019-Print International at Ty Pawb, Wrexham, Wales.
2019-The Westmorland Landcape Prize at the Rheged Centre, Cumbria:First Prize Winner.
2019-Year of the Print at Winterbourne House & Garden, University of Birmingham.
2019-Derby Print Open 2019- winner of the St Culthbert's Mill Print Prize.
2019-Leaminghton Spa Open Leaminghton Spa Art Gallery & Museum.
2019-'Micro' at Air Gallery, Altrincham.
2019-Group show with Birmingham Printmakers at Birmingham Midland Institute.
2019- Solo Exhibition 'Re-Cast' at Galerie Mayci, Birmingham.
2018- 10th Coventry Open Exhibition, Herbert Art Gallery & Museum, Coventry.
2018-166th Open Exhibition 2018 Royal West of England Academy, Bristol.
2018- RBSA Print Prize Exhibition, Royal Birmingham Society of Artists, Birmingham.
2018- Rendez-vous aux Jardins, Cairnhill, Rioux- Martin, France.
2018- Derby Print Open, Banks Mill Studios, Derby.
2018- Saltaire Arts Trail Open Houses, Saltaire World Heritage Site, West Yorkshire.
2018- Open Exhibition 2018 at NNContemporary Art, Northampton.
2018-Solo exhibition 'Manhole Covers: Pictures Beneath your Feet' at Nuneaton Museum & Art Gallery, Nuneaton.
2017-Teesside Print Prize 2017, Saabat Gallery, Middlesbrough.
2017- 'RWA 165th Open Exhibition', The Royal West of England Academy, Bristol.
2017- Leamington Spa Art Gallery & Museum Open Exhibition.
2016 -'The Masters: Etching', Bankside Gallery, London.
2016 - IMPRESS '16 National Contemporary Print Exhibition, Subscription Rooms, Stroud.
2015 - 'Salon' at the Waterhall Gallery, Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery
2015 - National Open Print Exhibition, Bankside Gallery, London
2015 - Birmingham Printmakers at Birmingham & Midlands Institute, Birmingham
2014 -Solo Exhibition 'The Journey Series' at the Theatre Bar,Old Joint Stock, Birmingham
2014 - Birmingham Today Competition RBSA Gallery, Birmingham
2013 - Birmingham Printmakers: 30 Years of Printmaking, Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery
2013 - Birmingham Botanical Gardens Open Summer Show
2013 - The Ludlow Open 2013, The Harley Centre, Ludlow College, Ludlow
2013 - The Worcester Open , Worcester Museum & Art Gallery, Worcester WR1 1DT
2012 - Print-side, The Bond Gallery, Birmingham
2012 - Royal Society of Painter Printmakers RE Open, Bankside Gallery, London SE1 9JH
2012 - The 8th British International Mini Print Exhibition, Printmakers Council, Touring Show
2011 - Bainbridge Open Print Show, Bainbridge Gallery & Studios, West Norwood
2011 - Birmingham Printmakers at We Are Birmingham , WAB Shop, Birmingham
2011 - Wrexham Print International, Oriel Wrecsam & Memorial Gallery, Wrexham, Wales
2010 - Print Exhibition, Staff House Gallery, Birmingham University, Birmingham
2009 - Impress 09 National Printmakers Festival, Stroud, Gloucestershire
2009 - Pushing Print, Ingoldsby Gallery, Pie Factory & The Old Town Gallery, Margate
2008 - Solo Show: Love Me Prints, lucky Roars and other work, Malvern Hills Council Chambers, Malvern.
2008 - Solo Show: Printmaker in Focus, Wrexham Arts centre, Wales.
2008 - Print Open Exhibition, Royal Birmingham Society of Artists Gallery, Birmingham
2008 - Performance commission part of 'Flux-Fest', 'Flummoxed at Vivid, Birmingham
2007 - ArtsFest 2007, Birmingham Council House, Victoria Square., Birmingham
2007 - Birmingham Printmakers Show, Keele University Art Gallery, Keele
2007 - New Art Birmingham 07, Art Market at Curzon Street Station, Birmingham
2007 - The Birmingham Open, Gas Hall, Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery, Birmingham.
2006 - A Stich in Time, Riverside Gallery, Richmond.
2006 - Virtual, Ernst & Young in association with Arts & Business, Birmingham.
2006 - Virtual, The City Inn in association with Arts & Business, Birmingham.
2005 - Small Works II, Periscope Gallery, Birmingham.
2004 - Solo Show: Red Echoes Installation, The Window, Birmingham.
2004 - Solo Show: 'Things Half Forgotten', Haden Hill Museum, West Midlands.
2004 - Blue Skies, Birmingham Artists Show, Custard Factory, Birmingham
2004 - Derby City Open, Derby City Art Gallery, Derby
2004 - Small works, Periscope Gallery, Birmingham
2003 - Solo Show: 'Arrangements for Impulse and Order', Library Gallery, Kidderminster.
2003 - Birmingham Works II, Chuck Works, Birmingham
2003 - 'Flipside', St Paul's Gallery, Birmingham.
2002 - 'Access All Areas', Herbert Art Gallery, Coventry.
2002 - Birmingham Print Workshop selected show, Warehouse Cafe, Birmingham.
2002 - Birmingham Print Workshop Selected Show, Warstone Gallery, Birmingham.
2002 - Birmingham Works, Chuck Works, Birmingham.
2002 - Selected Prints, Warehouse Cafe Gallery, Birmingham.
2001 - A century of Art at Warstone, Warstone Gallery, Birmingham.
2001 - Birmingham Print Workshop, Crescent Theatre, Birmingham.
2001 - Birmingham Printmakers, Keele University Gallery, Keele.
1999 - Spike Island Print Show, Spike Island, Bristol.
1998 - Pressing Forward, Aberystwyrth Art Centre, Wales.
1997 - 4 Birmingham Printmakers, London Print Workshop, London.
1997 - Pressing Forward, Cotton Gallery, Midlands Arts Centre, Birmingham.
1996 - Making a Mark, Custard Factory, Birmingham.
1995 - Birmingham Print Workshop, New Cross Hospital, Wolverhampton.
1995 - 'Proof', Cotton Gallery, Midlands Art Centre, Birmingham.
1995 - 'Twilight Shift', The Bond Gallery, Birmingham.
1995 - Solo Show: 'States of Mind', Solihull Sixth Form College, West Midlands.
1994 - Solo Show: Selected prints, West Midlands Arts Headquarters, Birmingham.
1992 - 'First Bite', Cotton Gallery, Midlands Art Centre, Birmingham.
1992 - Two Printmakers, Birmingham Institute of Art and Design, Birmingham.