About Angela Harding
"Born in 1960 in Stoke-on-Trent I studied Fine Art printmaking and painting at Leicester Polytechnic and then an MA in Fine Art at Nottingham Trent University.
The recurring inspiration for my work is the flora and fauna of the British countryside. My studio looks out over the Rutland landscape; the view is of sheep fields and English farmland, which are often represented in my work along with the theme of British birds.
I have always loved birds; not as someone who is a twitcher, but for their poetic form, shape, colour and atmosphere of place. Gulls of St Ives, summer blackbirds or the haunting sound of curlews across the salt marshes of Norfolk are often the starting point for new paintings. Birds have been represented in my work for the last twenty five years so it seems rather fitting that I have ended up living in a small Rutland village called Wing. It was Thomas Hardy who referred to birds as persistent intermits - moments of nature in all its many forms that can be experienced in a very personal way that can happen through listening to bird song. These moments can be just as powerful whether on a wild moor or watching a chirping bunch of sparrows in a city park. My partner Mark and I spend time in Norfolk as well as Cornwall and our local landscape of Rutland, so these places become backdrops for my paintings and prints.
Colour is also an inspiration for my work; the soft greens, greys and blues of the landscape or vibrant reds and oranges of autumn are a backdrop used in my paintings and prints. The work I produce is not a literal portrait but an attempt to capture the distinct mood and atmosphere of animals, birds and landscape. The work has an allegorical aspect that references British painting of the 30’s, 40’s and 50’s; especially the work of artists such as Eric Ravillious, David Jones and Winifred Nicolson, as well as contemporary artists such as Mary Fedden and the Scottish colourists."
The recurring inspiration for my work is the flora and fauna of the British countryside. My studio looks out over the Rutland landscape; the view is of sheep fields and English farmland, which are often represented in my work along with the theme of British birds.
I have always loved birds; not as someone who is a twitcher, but for their poetic form, shape, colour and atmosphere of place. Gulls of St Ives, summer blackbirds or the haunting sound of curlews across the salt marshes of Norfolk are often the starting point for new paintings. Birds have been represented in my work for the last twenty five years so it seems rather fitting that I have ended up living in a small Rutland village called Wing. It was Thomas Hardy who referred to birds as persistent intermits - moments of nature in all its many forms that can be experienced in a very personal way that can happen through listening to bird song. These moments can be just as powerful whether on a wild moor or watching a chirping bunch of sparrows in a city park. My partner Mark and I spend time in Norfolk as well as Cornwall and our local landscape of Rutland, so these places become backdrops for my paintings and prints.
Colour is also an inspiration for my work; the soft greens, greys and blues of the landscape or vibrant reds and oranges of autumn are a backdrop used in my paintings and prints. The work I produce is not a literal portrait but an attempt to capture the distinct mood and atmosphere of animals, birds and landscape. The work has an allegorical aspect that references British painting of the 30’s, 40’s and 50’s; especially the work of artists such as Eric Ravillious, David Jones and Winifred Nicolson, as well as contemporary artists such as Mary Fedden and the Scottish colourists."
Artist's biography
BA Honours Fine Art (first class) Leicester Polytechnic 1982
Nottingham Trent University MA Fine Art 1991
Exhibitions
2010
Ainscough Contemporary Art, London and Dartmouth; Twenty Twenty, Shropshire; The Purple Gallery, Birmingham; Serena Hall Gallery, Southwold; Affordable Art Fair, London; Foss Fine Art, London; Bircham Gallery, Holt; Godfrey & Watt, Harrogate
Work published by Art Angel Publishers May 2010
Forth coming Summer shows 2010
White Space Gallery, Devon; Albany Gallery, Cardiff; Purple Gallery, Birmingham; St Leonard’s Gallery, Stamford
2009
Godfrey & Watt, Harrogate; The Albany Gallery, Cardiff; The Yew Tree Gallery, Cornwall; Foss Fine Art, Aldeburgh and London; Hopewell Gallery, Northamptonshire; Royal West of England Academy, Bristol; Printfest 2009, Cumbria; Gallery Top, Derby
2008
Serena Hall Gallery, Southwold; Cambridge Contemporary Art; Rufford Centre, Worksop; Phillips & Evans, Leicester; Orange Street Gallery, Uppingham
2001 – 2007
City Gallery Leicester 2007, 2006, 2005; Rope Walk Gallery, 2006; Mini Print Exhibition, 2004; Harley Gallery, Worksop; Printmakers Council, 2003; Leeds Contemporary Craft and Design Gallery, 2003; Battersea Contemporary Art Fair 2002; Capola Gallery Sheffield, 2001; Wrexham International Print Show, 2001; International Mini Print, Vancouver, Canada, 2001
1981 – 2000
One Person Show, City Gallery Leicester 1996; Angel Row Gallery, Nottingham 1995; Spike Island Gallery, Bristol 1991; The Royal Academy, Stowells Trophy Commended 1981/82; Zella 9 London; Chalk Farm Gallery, London; Medici Gallery, London; Hugo Barclay, Brighton; New Ashgate Gallery, Farnham; Holly House Gallery, Tynemouth; Grape Lane Gallery York
Commissions
Lords Cricket Tickets 2000, illustrated brochure design, Bender coffee cups 2009, featured on cover of House Beautiful Magazine, June 2009
Other information
Gladstone Pottery Museum, engraver 1983 -84; Voluntary Service Overseas Bangladesh 1984 -85; Artist in Residence, Uppingham School 1988 -90; Part –time Lecturer at Stamford College of FE, North Oxfordshire; School of Art & Design, De MontFort University 1998 –current; art consultant at Elstone Hayes Associates, artwork for P&O Cruise Ship Arcadia 02 -05; Director of Leicester Print Workshop 2005 – 2008
Elected member of the Leicestershire Society of Artists
Nottingham Trent University MA Fine Art 1991
Exhibitions
2010
Ainscough Contemporary Art, London and Dartmouth; Twenty Twenty, Shropshire; The Purple Gallery, Birmingham; Serena Hall Gallery, Southwold; Affordable Art Fair, London; Foss Fine Art, London; Bircham Gallery, Holt; Godfrey & Watt, Harrogate
Work published by Art Angel Publishers May 2010
Forth coming Summer shows 2010
White Space Gallery, Devon; Albany Gallery, Cardiff; Purple Gallery, Birmingham; St Leonard’s Gallery, Stamford
2009
Godfrey & Watt, Harrogate; The Albany Gallery, Cardiff; The Yew Tree Gallery, Cornwall; Foss Fine Art, Aldeburgh and London; Hopewell Gallery, Northamptonshire; Royal West of England Academy, Bristol; Printfest 2009, Cumbria; Gallery Top, Derby
2008
Serena Hall Gallery, Southwold; Cambridge Contemporary Art; Rufford Centre, Worksop; Phillips & Evans, Leicester; Orange Street Gallery, Uppingham
2001 – 2007
City Gallery Leicester 2007, 2006, 2005; Rope Walk Gallery, 2006; Mini Print Exhibition, 2004; Harley Gallery, Worksop; Printmakers Council, 2003; Leeds Contemporary Craft and Design Gallery, 2003; Battersea Contemporary Art Fair 2002; Capola Gallery Sheffield, 2001; Wrexham International Print Show, 2001; International Mini Print, Vancouver, Canada, 2001
1981 – 2000
One Person Show, City Gallery Leicester 1996; Angel Row Gallery, Nottingham 1995; Spike Island Gallery, Bristol 1991; The Royal Academy, Stowells Trophy Commended 1981/82; Zella 9 London; Chalk Farm Gallery, London; Medici Gallery, London; Hugo Barclay, Brighton; New Ashgate Gallery, Farnham; Holly House Gallery, Tynemouth; Grape Lane Gallery York
Commissions
Lords Cricket Tickets 2000, illustrated brochure design, Bender coffee cups 2009, featured on cover of House Beautiful Magazine, June 2009
Other information
Gladstone Pottery Museum, engraver 1983 -84; Voluntary Service Overseas Bangladesh 1984 -85; Artist in Residence, Uppingham School 1988 -90; Part –time Lecturer at Stamford College of FE, North Oxfordshire; School of Art & Design, De MontFort University 1998 –current; art consultant at Elstone Hayes Associates, artwork for P&O Cruise Ship Arcadia 02 -05; Director of Leicester Print Workshop 2005 – 2008
Elected member of the Leicestershire Society of Artists