I am painting again since returning from a career break, my little one is now 3 years old… and we both enjoy painting together!
Nature has and always will play a part of my being able to process what is going on in the world all around me, and others in my life. Using the language of paint, collage, sculpture, photography or film, alone or in a mixed media format, allows me to play with shape, form, texture and colour through the energy of abstraction.
‘The landscape’ exists as a metaphor in my mind – a manifestation of where I am and what I see (physically), as well as how I am and what I’m experiencing (mentally). My ongoing physical and mental engagement with the autoimmune condition I live with everyday.
Inspired by both urban and natural environments, you can see the chaos as they sit side by side in my strands of work. The spirit embodied in these places and their connection to the people who live and use them excites me greatly. Therefore it makes sense that my art is an echo of all of these things and my expressive use of mark-making and colourful bold assemblages are a way of collectively combining both personal and external influences.
I’ve always said my work encompasses more than just what sits on the surface. Cracks and fissures exist seen and unseen, and are ready to bend and break if too much pressure is applied. This feels very relevant for the world we live in today.
Experience
2021-2023 Career break (now known as Jenny Catherall (was Drinkwater))
2021 Group Exhibition, Outside in Fundraiser, Chichester
2021 Lockdown 3.0 Photographic Story, Open Eye Stories, Open Eye Gallery, Liverpool
2020 Group Exhibition, The Secret Postcard Show, Cupola Gallery, Sheffield
2020 Virtual Exhibition, Land:Mash (Original show cancelled)
2019 Group Exhibition, 20×20 Fundraiser, Hospital Rooms, London
2019 Group Exhibition, The Secret Postcard Show, Matlock
2019 Solo Show, ‘Spliced And Diced’, Vernon Gallery, Stockport
2018 Group Exhibition, Fusion, Green Door Artists, Brewery Arts Centre
2018 Solo Show, ‘Rose Tinted’ AIR Gallery, Altrincham, Manchester
2018 Group Exhibition, SIZE Matters, The World of Glass, St Helens
2018 Solo Show, ‘FAKE SCAPE’ The Storey, Lancaster
2017 Group Exhibition, Blowing a Gail, Womanstanley, Warrington
2017 Group Exhibition, Warrington Contemporary Photography Open
2017 Group Exhibition, Nasty Woman Wigan, Cross Street Arts, Wigan
2017 Twitter ‘Artwork of the Day’, Chiara Williams Contemporary Art, London
2017 Group online exhibition ‘Transpired’, Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool
2017 ‘Mono’ Group Exhibition, PS Mirabel, Manchester
2016 Residency & ‘A Natural Dis-Order’ Showcase Solo Exhibition, The Gallery at St Georges House, Bolton, Manchester
2016 Sky Arts Landscape Artist of the Year (Heat 2 at Wray Castle, Cumbria)
2016 Artwork Studios & Gallery, Northwich, Group Open Exhibition
2015/16 Aintree Hospital, Liverpool, ‘ELEMENTS’ Solo show (Nov-Mar 2016)
2015/16 The Gallery at Bank Quay House, ‘MADE IN para:dise’ Solo show (Nov-Feb 2016)
2015 Paper Gallery, Manchester, Artist Residency
2015 ‘Shelf Life’ Group Exhibition, PS Mirabel, Manchester
2015 ‘A Temporary Surface’ One day pop-up solo show, Pyramid Arts centre
2015 MSB Exchange 2015 With Castlefield Gallery (M’cr), Bloc Projects (Sheff) & Extra Special People/Stryx (Birm) June/July/August
2015 Bankley Gallery, Manchester, ‘A Question of Landscape’ Solo show
2015 Group Exhibition, Liverpool Art Fair 2015
2015 ‘Host’ Group Exhibition, The Gallery at Bank Quay House
2015 ‘Perspectives’ Group Exhibition, Weaver Hall Museum, Cheshire
2014/15 Group exhibition, Yellow Door Artists, St Helens
2014 Group Exhibition, Frodsham Open
2014 Funky Aardvark – Chester Open
2014 Warrington Contemporary Arts Festival
2014 International group exhibition, Haihatus, Finland
2014 Group exhibition, Handels Gallery, Chester
2013 Group exhibition, Funky Aardvark gallery, Chester
Awards
2018 A-N Coaching Course Bursary with Relational Dynamics 1st
2016 Artist Bursary, Full Circle Arts, Manchester
Education
2020 – ‘Abstraction’, St Ives School of Painting
2017/2018 – ‘Introduction to Art Therapy’, Oxford College of Arts & Therapies
2016 – ‘Digital Photography’, Leeds College of Art, ‘Environmental Humanities – Remaking Nature’; ‘Exploring Animation’; Slade Summer School, London ‘Experimental Approaches to Landscape’; Yorkshire Sculpture Park; Brewery Arts, 2015; Cheltenham School of Fine Art, 2014; The Bluecoat, 2014; Hot Bed Press, Manchester; 2014 Neo-Artists, Bolton; 2013 Mid-Cheshire College, Fine Art Diploma; 2012/13 University College Chester, BA Hons 1998