Sonja Benskin
Dolgellau
The work is abstract. It is concerned with paint and memory.
Inspired by a childhood in St Ives, and latter years here in Wales, the work continues to explore the mystery and memory.
My work has simplified.
Balancing the outside world with that inside.
Landscapes of the mind.
The process starts with research, finding objects, subjects and ideas. Music and sounds focus the mind, and the painting, collage and layering begin, to continue until the image feels right. The paint is not completely controlled, the media allowed to dictate the passage of the work.
Two or three images are worked on simultaneously to allow the work to continue whilst the paint dries. This also creates a flow of ideas, and imagery. The ideas slowly change and develop without interruption.
Qualifications and training
1999 - Advanced GNVQ, Art and Design, Distinction
1982 - A Level Art
1962 - O Level Art
Solo exhibitions
2008 - Brightening the Slate, Town Libraries, Blaenau Ffestiniog and Caernarfon
2008 - The Visit, All Saints, Hereford
2008 - Turning the Tide, Oriel Cambria Gallery, Tregaron
2007 - Flying Alone, Unicorn Theatre, London
2007 - Looking for a Brighter Sky, King Street Gallery, Carmarthen
2006 - A Personal View, Pandy Mill Gallery, LLangollen
2006 - A Personal View, Spectrum Gallery, Machynlleth, Powys
2006 - Because the Sky is Blue, Snowdon Mill, Porthmadog
2005 - Recent Paintings, Oriel Makers, Cardiff
2005 - Shoreline, Oriel Plas Glyn y Weddw, Llanebedrog, North Wales
2005 - Watermarks, Bare Feet Gallery, Dublin
2004 - Blue, Rhiannon Gold Centre, Tregaron
2004 - Blue, Wrexham Art Centre
2003 - Blue Square, Oriel Parc Glynllifon, Caernarfon
2002 - Sound Works, Artlink, Hull
2002 - The Cove Project, Oriel Cambria, Tregaron
2001 - Journey, Cynon Valley Museum, Aberdare
2001 - Small Life, Y Tabernacl Museum of Modern Art Wales, Machynlleth
2001 - Sound Works, Aberystwyth Arts Centre, Aberystwyth
2000 - Other People's Lives, Pontadawe Arts Centre, Swansea
1999 - Of Sound, Theatre Ardudwy, Harlech
Group exhibitions
2009 - Freeze Frame, Candid Gallery, London
2008 - King Bladud's Pigs, Public Installation, Bath
2008 - Romance, Kowalsky Gallery, London
2007 - Adam Street Club, Adam Street Gallery, London
2007 - Drawing Bienalle, Oriel Q, Narberth
2007 - M.A.D, Draywalk Gallery, London
2006 - Art at Cass, Cass Business School, City of London
2006 - Undercover, Oriel Davies, Newtown
2006 - Young Curators, Oriel Davies, Newtown
2005 - About Face, Euroart Gallery, London
2005 - Apex, Candid Arts Trust, London
2005 - Challenge the Nail, Salon Des Artes, London
2005 - Yr Wyddor, Oriel Canfas, Cardiff
2004 - Art 4 All, Workplace Art, London
2004 - Art at Work, Coningsby Gallery, London
2004 - Essence of Wales, St David's Hall, Cardiff
2003 - Blue Wing Gallery, London
2003 - Idea, Time, Change, Vancouver, Canada
2003 - Square Visions, Oriel Plas Glynn y Weddw, Llanbedrog
2002 - Open Competition, Y Tabernacl Museum of Modern Art Wales, Machynlleth (annual)
2002 - Welsh Artist of the Year, St David's Hall, Cardiff (annual)
2001 - Selected Women Artists, Oriel Plas Glyn Weddw, Llanbedrog
2001 - Society of Graphic Fine Art, Hotbath Gallery, Bath
2001 - Summer Exhibition, Albany Gallery, Cardiff
2000 - Artwest, Carmarthen
2000 - Cannibal Sandwich, Nottingham Playhouse, Nottingham
2000 - Harlech Biennale, Harlech
2000 - Harlech Printmaking Open, Theatre Ardudwy, Harlech
2000 - Just Another Day, Ffotogallery, Cardiff
2000 - Millennium Book Project, Barbican, London and USA
2000 - Summer Exhibition, Royal Cambrian Academy, Conwy
1999 - Y Tabernacl MOMA Wales, Machynlleth
1999 - Wales Drawing Biennale, Aberystwyth Arts Centre, Aberystwyth (biannual)
Curated projects
2006 - Kernow/Cymru, Touring Exhibition, Wales
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