Artist statement
I am a visual artist based in Suffolk. I am interested in projects that explore and respond to the narratives and mythologies of objects and places. I am primarily a painter and printmaker, but my interest in objects extends into making, notions of archiving and collections. My work is informed by ethnography, archaeology, and material culture. My practice explores the premise that our possessions are biographical and that the places we inhabit bespeak our being in the world. As such, our belongings, and our belonging mediate our beliefs, actions and identity.
I have exhibited in a number of group exhibitions and have participated in residencies in the UK and Europe. I currently teach classes and workshops in painting, drawing and printmaking.
Education
Online Drawing Deveoplment Year, Royal Drawing School, 2023
MA Arts Practice, University of Suffolk, 2017
BA(Hons) Menswear, Central St Martins, University of the Arts, London, 2007
BA(Hons) Fine Art Printmaking, Loughborough College of Art and Design, 1995
Awards
Professional Development Award, Smiths Row, Bury St Edmunds, 2011
FORTHCOMING Exhibitions 2024
6th-10th March Online Drawing Development Year group show, Royal Drawing School tbc.
Exhibitions
2023
Group show. Grundisburgh House Gallery
Amy Drayson, Val Bright-Jones, Anne Townshend. Courtyard Gallery, Ballroom Arts, Aldeburgh
2022
Amy Drayson and Val Bright-Jones. Carousel, Framlingham
Backyard Artists. Sentinel Gallery, Wivenhoe
Amy Drayson and Val Bright-Jones. Craft House Woodbridge
Backyard Artists, Rowhedge
2021
Ipswich Print Week. Whistler Gallery, Ipswich
Backyard Artists. Rowhedge, Colchester
For Suffolk’s Sake. The Art Station, Saxmundham
2020
Solo show. Inspirations, Wickham Market
Landscape and Light. Online
2019
Backyard Artists. Rowhedge, Colchester
Solo Show. Framlingham Technology Centre, Framlingham
Wickham Market Arts Festival
2018
Val Bright-Jones and Amy Drayson. Sentinel Gallery, Wivenhoe
2017
Masters. Waterfront Gallery Ipswich
Winter Exhibition. Frame Workshop Gallery, Ipswich
The Cut Open. The Cut, Halesworth
2016
Artist Rooms. Prettys Solicitors, Ipswich
Flow. Pond gallery, Snape Maltings
MAD. Freudian Sheep Gallery, Ipswich
Ipswich Interpretations. Kerseys, Ipswich
2015
Time and Tide. Freudian Sheep Gallery, Ipswich
Suffolk Open Studios. Ipswich
2014
Winter Exhibition. Frame Workshop Gallery, Ipswich
2013
Suffolk Open Studios. Ipswich
Winter Exhibition. Frame Workshop Gallery, Ipswich
Suffolk Open Studios. Blackthorpe Barn, Rougham
2012
Never Ending Mural Exhibition. Ipswich Art School, High Street Gallery
2011
Suffolk Show Case. Smiths Row, Bury St Edmunds (Professional Development Award Winner)
1997
Artists in Your Back Yard. Rowhedge, Colchester
Residencies and Community Projects
Co-curator of Wickham Market Arts Project gallery space 2019-2020 and WMAP volunteer Residency. Jointly with Val Bright-Jones, Brisons Veor, Cape Cornwall, 2017
Performer with Shaun Caton, Rainschemes for Insomniacs. Spill Festival, Ipswich, 2016
Artist-in-residence, A Tale Told. Prettys Solicitors, Ipswich, 2016
Residency. Cyprus College of Art, Paphos, 2016
Artist-in-residence. Appel d'air Arts Festival, Arras, France, 2016
Artist-in-residence. Best Foot Forward Summer School, Coppleston High School, Ipswich, 2011
Artist volunteer, Never Ending Mural, Ipswich, 2011
Big Draw Artist, Cauldwell Hall Baptist Church, Ipswich, 2008
Teaching
Inside Out, Ipswich 2021-
Suffolk New College, Ipswich, 2017
University of Suffolk, School of Art, Ipswich, 2016
Ipswich Institute, 2015 -
Private tuition and mentoring, since 2012
Suffolk New College, Ipswich, 2009-2013
Wilson Marriage Centre, Colchester, 2010-2014
Grey Friars College, Colchester, 1998-2003