Royal West of England Academy: Artist Network Member
Bloomberg New Contemporaries 2014
Deborah Westmancoat is a British contemporary painter based in Somerset, UK. She has a long term interest in alchemy and the philosophical sciences and how they help us to understand landscape and our place within it, particularly how the traditionally held metaphysical stages of alchemy: nigredo (blackness), albedo (whiteness), citrinitas (yellowing) and rubredo (redness) might appear within the natural environment. Paintings begin in the quiet places where these stages become apparent and are made as a direct result of first hand experience within the landscape. Samples of site and weather specific waters, flood, rain, hailstones, dew, frost and snow melt are collected and combined with ink and locally found elements to record the peculiarities, mysteries and attitudes of water held within the British landscape, particularly around the South West of England.
Informed by local flooding, recent works focused on a visual understanding of nigredo, the dark, formless first state of alchemy, as experienced through the element of water. Paintings became experiments in understanding the nature of immersion, how to lose oneself in the work and absent oneself from the outcome. As part of the making process, panels were repeatedly immersed in black writing ink and local flood waters. Each time the previous story was washed away and a new story "written" upon the surface. These durational works were an attempt to understand the nature of beginnings, of how the movement of water can alter the "known" over time, and how our psyche is affected by the temporary loss of the familiar in our environment.
Current paintings investigate the second stage of alchemy, albedo, introducing the transformational action of albedic light and order. Particular virtues and qualities of form and light observed within streams, icicles, hoar frost and hailstorms have been the catalyst for new works which use collected samples of each to reference the energy, beauty and dynamism of water in these specific places and forms.
Works are held in both public and private collections and exhibited frequently throughout the UK and internationally. Recent exhibitions include Bloomberg New Contemporaries 2014 at the World Museum, Liverpool Biennial, The ICA, London and The Newlyn Gallery, the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition 2014, The Open West 2015, The RWA Open 2015, Dorchester Arts Open 2015 (first prize) and The Signature Art Prize 2015 (Painting Category finalist).
EXHIBITIONS
2016
Material Fact � joint exhibition with Stewart Geddes RWA, Studio 1:1, Shoreditch, London
Catchments and Transcripts � solo exhibition at Dukes Gallery, Dorchester, Dorset
248th RA Summer Exhibition � Royal Academy, London (currently shortlisted)
Contemporary British Art � exhibition and auction at Morton Casa de Subastas, Mexico City, Mexico
Artist Network Members Show � Royal West of England Academy, Bristol
Hanging Instructions � curated by Sveta Antonova, Fringe Arts Bath, Somerset
Water Works � international project culminating in a live streaming event where 22 curators from 19 countries will discuss selected entries and respond to online audience. http://water-wheel.net/
The Tempest � Contains Art, Watchet, Somerset
Pay and Display � Centrespace Gallery, Bristol
The Bureau Open Art Show 2016 � The Bureau Centre for the Arts, Blackburn, Lancashire
Momentum � The Museum in the Park Gallery, Stroud, Gloucestershire
Got Mail? � East Bristol Contemporary, Trinity Arts Centre, Bristol
artcornwall: web projects � http://www.artcornwall.org/webprojects_index.htm
Somerset Open Studios � The Brewhouse, Taunton, Somerset
Boundaries 2 � L�Artishe Gallery, Swanage, Dorset
Postcards � St Ives School of Painting, Porthmeor Studios, Cornwall
Ancient Scent � year long artist-led project exploring the art techniques of British Surrealist Ithell Colquhoun within the Lamorna landscape culminating in a group exhibition in Cornwall
2015
Bloomberg New Contemporaries 2014 � ICA, The Mall, London
Signature Art Prize 2015 (Painting Category Finalist) � DegreeArt, Shoreditch, London
Bloomberg New Contemporaries 2014 � Newlyn Art Gallery, Penzance, Cornwall
Contemporary British Art Auction 2015 � Morton Casa de Subastas, Mexico City, Mexico
163rd RWA Open 2015 � Royal West of England Academy, Bristol
Being Human: Words for a Value Led Life � Porthmeor Studios, St Ives, Cornwall
Pause � House Gallery, Camberwell, London
Subasta de Verano: Contemporary British Art � Morton Casa de Subastas, Mexico City, Mexico
Evolver Prize 2015 � Thelma Hulbert Gallery, Honiton, Devon
The Open West 2015 � The Wilson Gallery, Cheltenham, Gloucs
Dorchester Arts Open 2015 (First Prize) � Dorchester Arts Centre, Dorset
Game of Consequences � The Exchange Gallery, Penzance, Cornwall
ON PHOTOcopy/DISPLACEMENT � 44AD Gallery, Bath, Somerset
Christmas Art Fair � Chalton Gallery, Camden, London
A Space Between � The Stone Space Gallery, London
Time and Place � SAW Members Show, RUH, Bath
Matter. Place. An Other � Gallery 202, http://www.gallery202.co.uk/#!matterplaceanother/ct4s
Hand of Four � The Brewhouse Gallery, Taunton, Somerset
Momentum � The Musgrove Gallery, Taunton, Somerset https://momentumgallery.wordpress.com
InspirED Showcase � Hestercombe House Gallery, Somerset
Land of the Summer People � collaboration with PhD Hydrology students from Exeter University, works exhibited at Exeter Community Centre, project subsequently presented at Casa Pausa, Lima Peru and The AGU Fall Meeting, San Francisco, USA by Seila Fernandez Arconada
Drop Me a Line � Thelma Hulbert Gallery, Honiton, Devon
Open Studios 2015 � G14, BV Studios, Bristol
Diagnosis � The Musgrove Gallery, Taunton, Somerset
RELAPSE � artist led collective http://relapse-collective.com/Deborah-Westmancoat
Black Squares, Black Lines and Black Magic � curated by David Smith, Black Swan Arts, Somerset
Water-Meadow-Wood V3 Residency Exhibition � The Octagon, Yeovil, Somerset
Plymouth Other Open 2015 � Shoal Arts Co-operative
2014
Now in Reverse � Hundred Years Gallery, Hoxton, London
Bloomberg New Contemporaries 2014 � Liverpool Biennial at World Museum, Liverpool
Regulate � The Montgomery Gallery, Sheffield
Fabric of the Land � Union Square, Aberdeen Harbour, Scotland
3rd Anniversary Exhibition � Exeter Contemporary Arts Hub, Devon
RA Summer Exhibition � Royal Academy, Burlington House, Piccadilly, London
Free Range � Truman Brewery, Brick Lane, Spitalfields, London
Revelation � Plymouth University/Somerset College, Taunton, Somerset
Showcase � The Brewhouse, Taunton, Somerset
Signature Art Prize � online gallery
The Coffee Art Project � Allegra Foundation, Truman Brewery, Brick Lane, London
2013
Marshwood Vale Arts Awards � (selected by John Hubbard) Bridport Arts Centre, Dorset
Fabric of the Land � Geology Department, University of Aberdeen, Scotland
Wish You Were Here? � Contains Art, Watchet, Somerset
Free Range � Truman Brewery, Brick Lane, Spitalfields, London
Connected � The Market House, Taunton, Somerset
Showcase � White Space Gallery, Taunton, Somerset
COLLECTIONS
Work held in many private collections, both UK and international, and the public collections of Close Ltd, Exeter University and Bristol University (PhD Hydrology faculty).
PUBLICATIONS
2016 Internationale Kunst Heute 2016 � IKH Publishing, Germany
2016 The Tempest: William Shakespeare � limited edition of 500, Contains Art
2016 Hive, Issue no 3, June 2016 � private publication, edition of 15, Rosamond, Gronw-Lewis,Parsley (eds)
2015 Subasta de Arte Britanico Contemporaneo 2015 � Morton Casa de Subastas, New Mexico
2014 The State of Art: Landscape and Portrait #1 � Andy Laffan (ed), Bare Hill Publishing
2014 Bloomberg New Contemporaries 2014 � Enrico David (author), Kirsty Ogg (ed)
AWARDS
2015 Oppenheim-John Downes Memorial Trust � award towards progression of studio work for 2016
2015 Dorchester Arts Open 2015 � First Prize, Selectors Award (funded Solo Exhibition for 2016)
2014 Oppenheim-John Downes Memorial Trust � award towards progression of studio work for 2015
2013 Taunton Deane Borough Council � Art and Design Bursary 2013/14
EDUCATION
2013 � 2014 BA Hons Fine Art (1st Class) � Plymouth University
2011 � 2013 FdA Fine Art (Distinction) � Plymouth University
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