artist statement   caroline sharp
 

 

I first started exhibiting my work in 2001. My work uses natural materials and is strongly influenced by natural form, containment, growth and movement. Materials used include: stone, clay, chalk, willow, poplar, birch, hazel, and dogwood stems, leaves and wood. My work has become a medium for an interaction with nature, which is deeply personal.

I have undertaken residencies and commissions for site-specific installations in which the importance of form and context are paramount. Some commissions include working with the local community in both the concept development and installation.
Recent such commissions have included two installations along the Wessex Ridgeway; “Union” an installation within a young woodland; “Fallen Apples” an installation within a community orchard as part of the Creative Footsteps Project along the Wessex Ridgeway; an installation created specifically for the frontage of the new Crafts Study Centre building at the University of  Creative Arts at Farnham; “Shoot/Wave” an installation at Dorset County Hospital as part of the Arts in Hospital Programme; a community arts commission for artsNK, Lincolnshire;
and in 2012 an installation “Birch Circle” as part of the Art Loan Collection at University of Bournemouth.

Recent exhibitions have included the Urban Field exhibition at Contemporary Applied Arts in London; the touring Met Office exhibition “Elemental Insight”; “Fresh Air 2009” and 3 solo shows in 2009 at the Devon Guild, Black Swan Arts and Walford Mill. I have also had work selected as part of the Bournemouth University Art Loan Collection 2010 ; the Stroud International Textile Festival 2010; and “Sculpture and Form” at Atrium Gallery, Bournemouth University 2012.

I am represented by Contemporary Applied Arts, London and the Devon Guild, Bovey Tracey, Devon.
 

EXHIBITIONS

Solo Exhibitions: -

    • 2014 Mar – April – land-line-form, The Crafts Study Centre, UCA, Farnham, Surrey
    • 2013 Dec – Jan - Members Showcase, Devon Guild, Bovey Tracy, Devon
  • 2009 Aug – Sept – Members Showcase, Devon Guild, Bovey Tracy, Devon.
  • 2009 April-June – Vessel and Seed, Walford Mill, Wimborne, Dorset.
  • 2009 June – July – Enjoy the Earth Gently, Black Swan Arts, Frome, Somerset.

          
Group Exhibitions:-

  • 2017 July – Sep – Summer Exhibition, Devon Guild, Bovey Tracey, Devon
  • 2016 Aug – Sep – Step in Stone, Salisbury Arts Centre, Salisbury, Wilts.
  • 2016 July – Nov – Lyme Regis Sculpture Trail, Dorset
  • 2016 March – May – 30 – Walford Mill, Wimborne, Dorset
  • 2016 Jan- March - Pearl – Walford Mill, Wimborne, Dorset
  • 2015 Nov – Jan – Present and Collect, Contemporary Applied Arts, London
  • 2015 October – Step in Stone, Black Swan Arts, Frome, Somerset.
  • 2013 Dec – Jan – Whiteout, Contemporary Applied Arts, London
  • 2013 June – Fresh Air 2013, Quenington, Gloucestershire
  • 2012 November – December, Gifted, Contemporary Applied Arts, London
  • 2012 November – December, Present Makers, Thelma Hubert Gallery, Honiton, Devon
  • 2012 November – December, Make, Devon Guild, Bovey Tracey, Devon
  • 2012 February – April, Sculpture and Form, Atrium Gallery, Bournemouth University.
  • 2011 November – December, Contemporary Applied Arts, London.
  • 2011 September – November, Ruthin Craft Centre, Ruthin, Denbighshire.
  • 2011 September-October, Level Space, Stoke St. Gregory, Somerset.
  • 2011 June- September, Silver Thread, Devon Guild, Bovey Tracey, Devon.
  • 2011 May – July, Close to Nature, New Brewery Arts, Cirencester, Glos.
  • 2011 January – December, Wellbeing Centre, Bournemouth University, Dorset
  • 2010 November – January, Sea Light, Sladers Yard Gallery, West Bay, Dorset
  • 2010 November – December, Making, Salisbury Arts Centre, Wilts.
  • 2010 October – December, Art and the Naturalist, Arkadia Gallery, Dunster, Somerset
  • 2010 October – November ABC, Bridport Arts Centre, Dorset
  • 2010 May – Stroud International Textile Festival, Stroud, Glos.
  • 2010 May – June – Dorset Art Weeks, Open Studio.
  • 2010 April – May – H2O, Walford Mill, Wimborne, Dorset.
  • 2010 January – September – University of Bournemouth Art Loan, Dorset.
  • 2009 September – Artwey Open Studios, Dorset.
  • 2009 May – June Cup, Devon Guild, Bovey Tracey, Devon.
  • 2009 June – July  Fresh Air 2009, Quenington, Gloucestershire.
  • 2008 Dec-Jan – Christmas Show, Alpha Gallery, Sherborne, Dorset
  • 2008 Oct-Dec – Christmas Show,  Whitestones Gallery, Portland, Dorset.
  • 2008 June – Sept Ecology meets Craft, Walford Mill, Wimborne, Dorset
  • 2008 June – August Summer Exhibition, Alpha Gallery, Sherborne, Dorset
  • 2008 May Open Selected Exhibition, Dorchester Arts Centre, Dorset
  • 2008 May Trig Point Exhibition, Study Gallery of Modern Art, Poole, Dorset.
  • 2008 Jan-Feb Open Selected Exhibition, Black Swan Arts, Somerset.
  • 2007 June- August  Summer Exhibition, Bowlish Gallery, Somerset.
  • 2007 April-June Urban Field, Contemporary Applied Arts, London
  • 2007 Feb-Mar Pushing the Boundaries, Gracefield Arts Centre, Dumfries.
  • 2006 Nov-Dec Take Me Home, Contemporary Applied Arts, London.
  • 2006 Nov-Jan Pushing the Boundaries, mac, Birmingham.
  • 2006 Sept-Oct Pushing the Boundaries, St Fergus Gallery, Wick, Caithness.
  • 2006 May-June Earthbound 2, Whitestones Gallery, Portland, Dorset.
  • 2006 May-June Elemental Insight, Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk.
  • 2006 May-July Pushing the Boundaries, Inverness Museum and Art Gallery, Scotland.
  • 2006 May-June Dorset Art Weeks, Open Studio.
  • 2006 May- June 20/20, Walford Mill, Wimborne, Dorset.
  • 2006 Mar-April Earthbound, Bridport Arts Centre, Dorset.
  • 2006 Jan-Feb Elemental Insight, Falkirk, Scotland.
  • 2005 Dec-Jan White Stones Gallery, Easton, Portland, Dorset.
  • 2005 Nov-Dec Nature in Art, Twigworth Hall, Gloucester.
  • 2005 Oct-Nov Coombe Gallery, Dartmouth, Devon.
  • 2005 May- Sept  Mythic Garden, Chagford, Devon.
  • 2005 June 3, 4, 5  Crafts at Bovey Tracey, Bovey Tracey, Devon.
  • 2005 June-July The Biscuit Factory, Newcastle upon Tyne.
  • 2005 June-Aug Elemental Insight, Canterbury Museum, Canterbury, Kent.
  • 2005 Sept-Oct Elemental Insight, Derby Museum, Derby.
  • 2005 Jan-Feb Elemental Insight, Black Swan Guild, Frome, Somerset.
  • 2005 Jan-Feb Get Fresh 2, Devon Guild, Bovey Tracey, Devon.
  • 2005 Feb – April, Broadening Horizons, Walford Mill, Wimborne, Dorset.
  • 2005 Mar-April, Elemental Insight, Bridport Arts Centre, Dorset.
  • 2005 April-May Elemental Insight, Burton Art Gallery, Bideford, Devon.
  • 2004 Nov.-Dec Elemental Insight, BBC, Wood Lane, London W12.
  • 2004 Nov-Dec Comfort and Joy, Bridport Arts Centre, Dorset.
  • 2004 July – October Art in the Garden, Romsey, Hants.
  • 2004 Sept-Nov Otterton Mill, Devon.
  • 2004 September Elemental Insight, Devon Guild, Bovey Tracey, Devon.
  • 2004  Art of Craft venues in Dorset and Norfolk Feb/June
  • 2004  Elemental Insight, The Meteorological Office
  • 2004  Dorset Art Week, May/June
  • 2003  Atrium Gallery, Bournemouth University, Dorset.
  • 2003  Platform Gallery, Clitheroe, Lancs.
  • 2003  Round the Garden, Scaplens Court, Poole, Dorset.
  • 2003  Mythic Garden Annual, Chagford, Devon.
  • 2003  Ground Cover, Devon Guild of Craftsmen, Bovey Tracey, Devon.
  • 2003  Modern Makers, Study Gallery, Poole, Dorset.
  • 2003  Garden Inspiration, Walford Mill Gallery, Wimborne, Dorset.
  • 2003  Farming Matters, Artsreach, Dorset.
  • 2003  Get Fresh, Devon Guild of Craftsmen, Bovey Tracey, Devon.
  • 2002  Land, Artsway, Sway, Hants.
  • 2002  Christmas Show, Sherborne House, Sherborne, Dorset.
  • 2002  Christmas Feast, Walford Mill Gallery, Wimborne, Dorset.
  • 2002  Construction,Walford Mill Gallery, Wimborne, Dorset.
  • 2002  Mythic Garden Annual, Chagford,Devon.
  • 2001  Arts in Hospital Christmas Show,Sherborne, Dorset.
  • 2001  Bridport Open Art Exhibition, Bridport, Dorset.
  • 2001  The Old Warehouse Gallery, Dorchester, Dorset.  

          

RESIDENCIES

  • 2002  Shoot/Wave Installation at Dorset County Hospital, Dorchester, Dorset, between January and June 2002.
  • 2003  Art in the Garden Residency, Hilliers Garden, Romsey, Hants. 25/26/27 July – Sept.
  • 2004  Residency and workshops, Making Space, Staunton Country Park, Havant, Hants.

COMMISSIONS

  • 2002  Presence-Private Garden, Dorset.
  • 2003/2004 Art of Craft, Artsreach Leader EU funded project. Dorset.
  • 2003/2004 Willow installation/frontage to Crafts Study Centre, Surrey Institute of Art, Farnham, Surrey.
  • 2006/2007 Creative Footsteps, Wessex Ridgeway Project, Dorset Artsreach. EU funded.
  • 2008 Arts NK, Installation at North Hykeham School/Community Centre, Lincoln.

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS

  • Contemporary Applied Arts London ( Member)
  • Devon Guild of Craftsmen ( Member )

PUBLICATIONS, CRITICAL REVIEWS AND PRESS COVERAGE

  • 2009  Julie Herring, Bournemouth University Art Loan Collection 2010 Catalogue.
  • 2007  James Crowden, Creative Footsteps, Artsreach.
  • 2007  Professor Simon Olding, Urban Field Catalogue, CAA.
  • 2006  Louise Butler, Pushing the Boundaries Catalogue. Scottish BAC.
  • 2005  Professor Simon Olding, Fifty, Commemorative Book, Devon Guild.
  • 2004  Alex Murdin, Elemental Insight Exhibition Catalogue.
  • 2004  Margot Coatts, Housing a Movement, Crafts Magazine, Jul/Aug
  • 2003  Emma Maiden, Land forms, Crafts Magazine, Jul/Aug
  • 2003  Emma Maiden, Get  Fresh, a-n magazine, January
  • 2001  Joe Taylor, Dorset Echo, March
  • 1997  Simon Moore, Landscape Design Extra, May
  • 1997  Civic Trust Awards Supplement, Building Magazine, April
  • 1993  Mathew Risdon, Paper Landscapes, Landscape Design, February

PUBLIC COLLECTIONS

  • 2010  The Wellbeing Centre, Bournemouth University, Dorset

 

 

 

 

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