Stephen Livingstone
Stephen Livingstone is an artist whose work explores human impact upon landscape and habitat, drawing upon a range of concerns from earth sciences through ecology to archaeology. He is particularly attracted to working directly with sites associated with old industrial activity and to museum collections. His work with the moth and butterfly collection of Oxford University Museum has received international recognition and was exhibited in 2012 at the Museum of Art and Design in New York. Livingstone's work is founded upon meticulous research and experimentation and manifests itself in a variety of forms such as the making of objects and books, installation and digital printmaking. Drawing is at the core of his practice, often on a very large scale and commonly made using naturally occurring pigments ground to fine powders and combined with medium and water. He has a keen interest in the history of science and of scientific collections, often referring to the human stories behind the theories and discoveries, unearthing forgotten histories and beliefs along the way. Influences Entomology, ornithology, geology, botany, archaeology, the history of scientific thought and space exploration. Career path Studied Fine Art at Wimbledon and Chelsea Colleges of Art and went on to work in education and as a full-time artist.
Qualifications and training
1984 - PGCE Art and Design, Brighton Polytechnic, Brighton 1980 - MA Painting, Chelsea School of Art, London 1979 - BA Hons (First) Fine Art, Wimbledon School of Art, London.
Solo exhibitions
2022 - Hive Geometrix, Upfront Gallery, Cumbria; 2019 The Lost Tent, Keswick Museum, Cumbria; 2019 Atlantic Drift:Migrations, Old Low Light Heritage Centre, North Shields Fish Quay; 2018 - Scaling the Heights, Oriental Museum, Durham Unuversity; 2017 - Submarine, Old Low Light Heritage Centre, North Shields Fish Quay; 2016 - Boat Curves, Customs House Gallery, South Shields; 2016 - Auger/Augur, School of Engineering and Computer Science and Department of Earth Sciences, Durham University; 2015 -Tidelines, Old Low Light Heritage Centre, North Shields Fish Quay; 2015 - Degrees Minutes Seconds, School of Engineering and Computer Science, Durham University; 2014 - Gathering Dust, Collecting Shadows, Acorn Bank (National Trust), Cumbria; 2013 - Moths and Moons, UNESCO World Heritage Site Visitors Centre, Durham; 2013 - Patterns of Migration, Bede's World Museum, Jarrow; 2012 - The Mountains of the Moon, The Oriental Museum, Durham University; 2011 - Gallery of Wonder - Dust and Shadows, Great North Museum:Hancock, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne; 2011 - Shafts and Levels, Teikyo University of japan, Durham University; 2009 - Mapping the Dark, The Garden Station , Langley, Northumberland; 2008 - ‘Dust to Dust’ , Vennel’s Café-Bar as part of Durham Arts Festival, Durham; 2007 - ‘Carpet Pages’ , Institute for Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies, Durham University; 2007 - ‘Reliquiae’ , Drumcroon Gallery, Wigan; 2006 - ‘Time and Tide’ , Bedes World Museum and Heritage Site, Jarrow, Tyne and Wear; 2004 - Moths and Moons, touring galleries and museums for the British Library, North of England; 2000 - Cyprus Sweet, Bishop Auckland Town Hall Gallery, Bishop Auckland; 1998 - Eternal Youth, Digital Fesco for the Spennymoor Settlement; 1997 - Elements and Wired with Carey Young, Zone Gallery, Newcastle upon Tyne; 1996 - 'X-rays', multi-media installation, Spennymoor School, Durham; 1994 - 'Ulverston Series - a Cycle of Digital Frescoes', Middlesbrough City Art Gallery, Middlesbrough; 1984 - The Running of The Deer, Paintings, Queens Hall Arts Centre, Hexham, Northumberland.
Group exhibitions
2016 - Landmarks, Water Street Gallery, Todmorden; 2014 - Altered Books, Birmingham City Library; 2013 - Returning to the Philosopher's Table, Newcastle Literary and Philosophical Society, Newcastle upon Tyne; 2013 - Cabinets of Curiosities, Room of Wonder, Borough Museum, Newcastle-under-Lyme; 2012 - Four Legs Good, Beetroot Tree Gallery, Draycott, Derbyshire; 2012 - Pollok House, Glasgow; 2012 - Swept Away - dirt, dust and ashes in contemporary art, Museum of Arts and Design, New York; 2011 - Icon, Water Street Gallery, Todmorden, Lancashire; 2010 - Dust and Shadows, Saltburn Artists Cooperative; 2010 - Gallery Artists Show, Water Street Gallery, Todmorden, Lancashire; 2009 - Birds, Bees, Butterflies, Chapel Row Gallery, Bath; 2009 - Christmas Exhibition, Bianco Nero Gallery, Stokesly, N. Yorkshire; 2009 - Place, Identity, Memory, Gracefield Arts Centre, Dumfries; 2009 - Wing and a Prayer, Dorman Museum, Middlesbrough; 2008 - ‘Shelter’ , Wedeman Gallery MA, Pyramid Atlantic MD, Fleet Library RI, 301 Gallery MA, String Room Gallery NY, USA; 2008 - Durham Book Festival, The Oriental Museum, Durham; 2008 - Public Library, The Oriental Museum, Durham University; 2007 - ‘After Get Carter’ , Antioch House (Frances Thirlway Fine Art), Durham; 2007 - 'Prince of Flowers’ Linneaus tercentenary, Crook Hall, Durham; 2007 - 'Rich and Strange’, University of Wales, Newport; 2006 - International Art Fair, Frances Thirlway Fine Art, Edinburgh; 2006 - 'The Draughtsman’s Contract’, Crook Hall, Durham; 2005 - ‘A Rich Seam’, Branspeth Castle (Frances Thirlway Fine Art), Durham; 2005 - Group Show, The Picture House, Harrogate; 2005 - 'Signs and Portents’, Antioch House (Frances Thirlway Fine Art), Durham; 2004 - Three Not of a Kind, Seasons Gallery, Durham; 2003 - 15 Minutes with Giotto, Huddersfield Art Gallery, Huddersfield and John Ruskin Museum, Coniston; 2002 - Durham Open Exhibition, DLI, Durham; 1999 - The People Show, Northumbria University Gallery, Newcastle upon Tyne; 1998 - Links and Connections, Vardy Gallery, University of Sunderland and 'L' Gallery, Moscow; 1998 - Natural Selection, Multi-media installation with Anton Hecht, Tully House Museum, Carlisle; 1997 - Spennyopolis, Multi-media nstallation with Anton Hecht, Bowes Museum, Barnard Castle; 1990 - Three Person Show, Linton Court Gallery, Settle; 1983 - Gallery 7, Newcastle upon Tyne 1983 - Sunderland Art Centre.
Curated projects
2014-17 The Boat, curated project for the Old Low Light cultural and heritage centre, North Shields Fish Quay; 2013 - Returning to the Philosophers' Table, Newcastle Literary and Philosophical Society, Newcastle upon Tyne Public commission; 2012 - Pieces of Sky, Wirksworth Festival, Derbyshire commission; 2008 - ‘Scanned’, Bowes Museum, educational project funded by the Wallace Collection and the James Knott Foundation, Barnard Castle; 2008 - 'Watch This Space’, educational project, MIMA, Middlesbrough 2007; 'Silk Threads’, educational project and international exchange, with artist/travellers Denise Bryan and Adrian Wilkins funded by the EU, the Ragdoll Foundation and Oriental Museum, University of Durham; 2006 - 'The Unity of Being’, Institute of Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies, Durham University; 2004 - 'Painted Labyrinth’ , British Library, London.
Competitions, prizes and awards
2020 - Arts Council bursary to develop Hive Geometrix in collaboration with Penrith Beekeepers Association; 2019 - Arts Council bursary to develop The Lost Tent for Keswick Museum; 2018 - Arts Council bursary Durham University Research Award to develop Scaling the Heights; 2017 - Arts Council bursary to develop Boat Curves for the Customs House, South Shields; 2014-18 Arts Council bursaries to develop and curate The Boat for the Old Low Light heritage centre, North Shiels; 2014 - Leverhulme Trust Artist in Residence award to work with Durham University's School of Engineering and Computer Sciences; 2014 - Arts Council bursary to develop work for Gathering Dust for the National Trust; 2013 - bursary to develop work for Returning to the Philosophers Table; 2006 - Travel Bursary to work in Venice, A4, Association of Art Inspectors and Advisors; 2001 - National Artworks Award, Clore Foundation, Tate Modern; 2000 - National Artworks Award, Clore Foundation, Tate Modern; 1997 - 'Eternal Youth’ National Lottery Award, Spennymoor Settlement, Durham; 1994 - Northern Arts Artists Awards, Northern Arts.