Approved: 16.08.2006

Ursula Leach

Artist

Approved: 16.08.2006

Concepts I make prints and paintings responding to farmed landscapes.  Living in a mostly arable landscape I necessarily engage with current farming techniques as well as the natural changes that occur. The work is intended to be a document as well as an expression. Colour has become increasingly important to me as an expression of mood and atmosphere. Pictorial structure and the edge of the image offer exciting scope to explore the space and scale in a landscape of huge fields.  I have become interested in buildings on the land, structures whose uses are sometimes obscure.  Recently the work has become radically simplified and more abstract although always retaining a vestige of figuration and therefore more reliant on the colour being exactly right to elicit the response I am looking for. Processes and techniques Oil paint on canvas. Layering the paint. A lot of editing. Carborundum prints for painterly marks. Etchings with carborundum. Influences environmental, agriculture,  colour, semi-abstract

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      Artist Statement

      Concepts I make prints and paintings responding to farmed landscapes.  Living in a mostly arable landscape I necessarily engage with current farming techniques as well as the natural changes that occur. The work is intended to be a document as well as an expression. Colour has become increasingly important to me as an expression of mood and atmosphere. Pictorial structure and the edge of the image offer exciting scope to explore the space and scale in a landscape of huge fields.  I have become interested in buildings on the land, structures whose uses are sometimes obscure.  Recently the work has become radically simplified and more abstract although always retaining a vestige of figuration and therefore more reliant on the colour being exactly right to elicit the response I am looking for. Processes and techniques Oil paint on canvas. Layering the paint. A lot of editing. Carborundum prints for painterly marks. Etchings with carborundum. Influences environmental, agriculture,  colour, semi-abstract

      Career path: 2021 Solo show The Art Stable, 2020 Solo show at Oliver Contemporary, 2017 Solo show at The Art Stable (introduction by Annette Ratuszniak/curator the Frink Estate) 2016  Solo show at Oliver Contemporary reviewed in The Week, 2106 - represented by The Project Gallery, Arundel.  2014 - Work exhibited in three major Open Exhibitions - The Threadneedle Prizes, The RWA Open & The Millfield Open. 2011-2016 Works on consignment to Marlborough Graphics, London.  Represented by The Art Stable, Blandford, Dorset and Oliver Contemporary, London 2002-2017.  Catalogue introduction written by Andrew Lambirth for solo show at The Art Stable. 2013. Chosen by Fay Weldon as her favourite artist in The Mail on Sunday 2013.  Elected Fellow of the Royal Society of Painter Printmakers 2002.  Catalogue written by Lynne Green to accompany touring exhibition, Growing Concerns 2001 - financially assisted by Attendi Gallery, London; The Old Warehouse Gallery, Dorchester; Maltby Contemporary Art, Winchester. 1998 Commission for Diptych for Worthing Hospital, funded by Artplace, Arundel 1998. Elected Associate of Royal Society of Painter Printmakers  1996.  Represented by Attendi Gallery, London 1995.  R K Burt Etching Prize, Victoria Art Gallery, Bath  1993. Exhibition and Residency, The Chesil Gallery, Portland, Dorset, financially assisted by Southern Arts 1989. 1989/92 BA Hons, Fine Art, West Surrey College of Art & Design, Farnham 1967/69 Fine Art, Dip AD Course, Wimbledon School of Art 1965/66 Foundation Course, Winchester School of Art

      CV & Education

      Selected Solo Exhibitions

      2021   From Where I Stand, The Art Stable, Dorset

      2020    Here and There,  Oliver Contemporary, London

      2017    Within Bounds (introduction by Annette Ratuszniak) The Art Stable, Blandford

      2016    The Colour of Things, Oliver Contemporary, London

      2013    Landscape Plotted & Pieced (Introduction by Andrew Lambirth)The Art Stable

      2010    Homeland, The Art Stable, Kelly Ross Fine Art, Blandford, Dorset

      2010    Seeing Change, The John Creasey Museum, Salisbury

      2008    On the Edge, Oliver Contemporary, London

      2006    Colour Fields, Oliver Contemporary, London

      2002    Growing Concerns, Attendi Gallery, London

      2001    Growing Concerns, Dorset County Museum, Dorchester

      1997    Scratching the Surface, Attendi, London

      1996    Scratching the Surface, Stansell Gallery, Taunton

      1994     Landmarks, Southampton City Art gallery

      Selected Group Exhibition

      2024          London Original Print Fair, Somerset House, London

      2024          Regeneration, Hansard Studio, London

      2023          Acearts Open Exhibition, Somerset

      2023           International Original Print Exhibition, Bankside Gallery, London

      2022-23     The Black Swan, Frome with Group 7

      2022           Millfield Open, Somerset

      2022           Connections with Group 7, The North Wall Arts Centre, Oxford

      2022          Trees and the Sacred, Norwich Cathedral with The Arborealists

      2021-23     Greenstage Gallery, Herefordshire

      2021       International Original Print Exhibition, London

      2021       Off The Wall, Buckinghamshire County Museum

      2021       Twenty Years, Oliver Contemporary, London

      2020/21  Field and Feather, The Slade Centre, Gillinham, Dorset. Two Person Exhibition

      2020/21  Being with Trees, Bermondsey Project Space, London

      2020-23  Nadia Waterfield Fine Art, Hampshire

      2020    The London Art Fair, Islington

      2019/20   The Arborealists, The Young Gallery, Salisbury and tour

      2019    Summer Exhibition, Campden Gallery, Gloucestershire

      2019    Made in Britain, Oliver Contemporary, London

      2018    Royal Academy Summer Exhibition, London

      2018    Sense of Place, the Project Gallery, Arundel

      2017    Marshwood Arts Awards, Bridport

      2017   The Masters, Open exhibition, London

      2017   Seven Printmakers, Oliver Contemporary, London

      2016/17   Russell Cotes Art Gallery & Museum, Bournemouth with Group 7

      2016   The Gallery at Dukes, Dorchester with The Art Stable

      2016   The Project Gallery, Arundel, Three person show

      2016   Royal Academy Summer Exhibition, London

      2016   For Art's Sake, London

      2016   The Burton Art Gallery & Museum, Bideford with Group 7

      2015-18   National Original Print Exhibition, London

      2015   The Burton Art Gallery & Museum, Bideford

      2015    A Promised Land, St Anne's Gallery, Lewes

      2014    The Threadneedle Prize Exhibition, London

      2014    RWA Open, Bristol

      2014    Open Print Exhibition, Salisbury Art Centre

      2014    National Open Print Exhibition, London

      2014    Millfield Open, Atkinson Gallery, Somerset

      2014    Belgrave St Ives, Cornwall

      2013    Highgate Contemporary London.Three person show with Brian Rice, Tony Martin

      2013    Hilton Fine Art, Bath  

      2012    Evolution: Frink and the Next Generation, Bournemouth University, Bournemouth

      2012    RE OPEN International Exhibition, Bankside Gallery, London

      2011    In The Shadow of the Chase, Dorset County Museum, Dorchester & Salisbury Museum

      2011     London Original Print Fair, Royal Academy, with Marlborough Graphics

      2011     Print & Design Now, SW1 Gallery and Bearspace, London

      2008-12 London Original Print Fair, Royal Academy Of Arts, London

      2009-23 The Art Stable, Blandford, Dorset

      2009     Open 09 Drawing, Salisbury Arts Centre, Salisbury, Wiltshire

      2006-15 Arflex, Osaka & Tokyo, Japan 

      2008     The Discerning Eye, Mall Galleries, London. Invited artist

      2007      The Study Gallery, Poole, Dorset.  Two person show

      2006/09 &13  New Ashgate Gallery, Farnham, Surrey

      2002-23    Oliver Contemporary, London

      2005/02 &1995  Hunting Art Prize, Royal College of Art, London

      2004-06   Elemental Insight, Met Office, Exeter; BBC, London, Museums Derby,Canterbury etc

      2003-07   Campden Gallery, Chipping Campden

      2003        In Praise of Trees, Salisbury Cathedral, Salisbury

      2002       The Discerning Eye, Mall Gallery, London

      1994-2003 National Print Exhibition, Mall Gallery, London

      1998        A Flight over Cranborne Chase, Salisbury Playhouse

      1996        Summer Exhibition, Redfern Gallery, London

      Competitions, Prizes and Awards

      2016 The Badger Press Award. National Open Print Exhibition, London.  2016 Cover prize for Dorset Art Weeks brochure. 2009 - Intaglio Printmaking Prize, Bankside Gallery, London.  2006  Dorchester Open - Prizewinner. 2005 - The Curwen Print Studio Prize, Bankside Gallery, London. 1996 South West Arts Award. 1993 The RK Burt Etching Prize, Victoria Art Gallery, Bath. 1989 Southern Arts Award

      Publications:   

      2016 - The Week - review.  2013 -The Wall Street Journal.  2013 - Open Frequency (www.axisweb.org).  2012 -The Spectator (Andrew Lambirth) 2012 - The Public Catalogue Foundation.  2011 - Art in The Shadow of the Chase.  2009 - Printmakers Secrets.  2008 -The Week.  2006 - Galleries Magazine. 2006 - The Week.  2006 - 50 Wessex Artists (Evolver Books).  2005 - Collagraphs and Mixed Media  Printmaking.  2004 - Elemental Insight Catalogue.  1994 - Landmarks Catalogue (Lynne Green).  1994 - Contemporary Art Magazine

      Collectiions

      Durham University, Ashmolean Museum, Worthing Hospital, St Marks Hospital, London, The Royal Hospitals NHS Trust, Dorset County Hospital, Kirklees Museums, The Curwen Archive, The House of Lords, The Creasey Collection & The Victoria & Albert Museum