About

Fifteen years ago I moved from Nottingham to Cromford in Derbyshire. In Nottingham I had been chiefly painting still-lifes. While living in Cromford I became fascinated with the quarries that are scattered across the Derbyshire landscape. I made a series of sketches, digital drawings and paintings on quarry themes – the quarry walls, the piles of spoilage, the extraordinary buildings and the heaps of scrapped machinery that you find in both working and abandoned quarries. Last year I moved again, this time into the centre of Derby. My interest has returned to still-lifes, particularly to painting and drawing plants. While in Cromford I produced quarry-related digital images on a PC and I have now begun experimenting with an i-Pad.

Throughout this time my approach has remained much the same. I start from real life and work away on colour, line and form until I produce a more abstract image that captures what I see in my mind’s eye.

I moved to Derby in 1993. No longer being surrounded by quarries I have been life drawing on a regular basis which has led me to explore the body in an abstract way, particularly on myiPad.Life drawing is a static discipline which sparked the idea of moving bodies and I have settled on football. Footballers perform marvellous feats of suspension. This is my main exploration at this time.

I have exhibited works at:
2019   Derbyshire Open, Museum and Art Gallery, Buxton
2016   No 28 Cafe, Belper
2015   Derbyshire Open, Museum and Art Gallery, Buxton
2014   Derbyshire Open, Museum and Art Gallery, Buxton
2013   Tarpy Gallery, Castle Donnington, Open Exhibition
2013   Derbyshire Open, Museum and Art Gallery, Buxton
2013   Leicester Open 24, New Walk Gallery
2011   Tarpy Gallery, Castle Donnington, Open Exhibition
2009   Buxton Museum and Art Gallery
2009   Derbyshire Open
2007   Harrington Studios, Long Eaton
2002   Manchester Open, Bury Art Gallery
2002   National Stone Centre, Wirksworth
2002   Annual Open, Castle Museum, Nottingham
2001   Annual Open, Castle Museum, Nottingham
2000   Summer Open Exhibition, Nottingham University
2000   Wirksworth Summer Festival
1999   Wirksworth Summer Festival
1999   Derby City Open
1998   Derby City Open
1997   Summer Open Exhibition, Nottingham University.
1997   Derby City Open
1996   Summer Open Exhibition, Nottingham University
1996   Oldknows Studio Exhibition (for Artists resident in the Studio)
1995   Summer Open Exhibition, Nottingham University
1994   Summer Open, Nottingham University
1994   Annual Open, City Gallery, Leicester
1993   Angel Row Gallery, Nottingham
1992   Priory Gatehouse, Worksop
1992   Rufford Craft Centre
1992   Stafford Art Gallery, Stafford
1992   Lacemarket Festival, Nottingham
1992   Angel Row Gallery, Nottingham
1992   Annual Open, Castle Museum, Nottingham
1992   Annual Open, City Gallery, Leicester
1991   Nottingham County Council, Touring Exhibition
1990   Sulgrave Manor, Oxford Arts week
1989   Annual Open Castle Museum, Nottingham
1988   Yew Tree Gallery, Cheltenham
1987   Leicester County Art Exhibition, Leicester
1986   Yew Tree Gallery, Ellastone, Derbyshire
1986   Annual Open, Castle Museum, Nottingham
1985   Sneinton Mill, Nottingham
1973   Summer Open, Nottingham University
1973   British Tapestries and Hangings, Edinburgh Festival

My work has been bought by:

Department of the Environment
Leicester County Council
Nottingham University
Nottingham Trent University
Buxton Museum and Art Gallery (Prize)

Contact:suzanneking@btinternet.com