Step Up

A professional development programme for visual artists in Suffolk including those with learning disabilities.

Town Maps People Houses (2018) by Genista Dunham & Colin BrinkleySuffolk Artlink

 Step Up was an inclusive professional development programme for visual artists in Suffolk. Over 12 months, 16 artists were brought together to take part in a programme of workshops and to collaborate in pairs to test ideas and produce new work inspired by each others’ practice.

Concrete Jungle (2018) by Colin Brinkley & Genista DunhamSuffolk Artlink

Colin Brinkley & Genista Dunham

Colin and Genista explored the geographical matrix of Bury St. Edmunds, which is the first medieval grid maps in England. Most of their work is about the changing mapping of the town, streets, routes, navigation developments, shops and people.

Found objects (2018) by Patrick Parker & Amy NettletonSuffolk Artlink

Patrick Parker & Amy Nettleton

Amy and Patrick share an affinity with the discarded. Both work predominantly in 3D. During this collaboration Parker has used packaging and card to develop a series of works whilst Nettleton uses objects that have lost their intended purpose to make new concept based works. 

Beach Themed Masterpiece (2018) by Patrick Parker & Amy NettletonSuffolk Artlink

Amy is also interested in accidental photography. Working together regularly has progressed both their practices and thoughts about what they do and why.

Brush-Hair-Brush, Patrick Parker & Amy Nettleton, 2018, From the collection of: Suffolk Artlink
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The Manga Lady Sculpture, Patrick Parker & Amy Nettleton, 2018, From the collection of: Suffolk Artlink
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Portraits (2018) by Sean McManus & Emma WithersSuffolk Artlink

Sean McManus & Emma Withers

Sean and Emma agree they both enjoyed working side by side, talking about and looking at art! They share a love of drawing the human figure and faces. Their final work was a banner celebrating their work together showing portraits of some of the people they met.

Hand printed t-shirts (2018) by Harvey Harris & Gareth BaylissSuffolk Artlink

Harvey Harris and Gareth Bayliss

Harvey and Gareth have a like minded view on what’s hot and what’s not. A large part of their working process saw them seeking inspiration from charity shop to catwalk with a vivacious appetite for graffiti and street dance culture. 

Angel Wings (2018) by Briagha Grant & Shelly O'BrienSuffolk Artlink

Shelly O'Brien and Briagha Grant

Shelley and Briagha both love to make things impulsively using all sorts of materials, colours and ideas expressed in their creations. 

Step Up Exhibition at the Asylum Gallery -Briagha Grant & Shelly O'Brien (2018) by Briagha Grant & Shelly O'BrienSuffolk Artlink

Shelly and Briagha's theme of ‘love and protection’ encompasses current and historical experiences mixed with symbolism and seeks to explore how connection to nature and spirit supports us in everyday life.

Flower Power (2018) by Ruth Williams & Hayley FieldSuffolk Artlink

Hayley Field and Ruth Williams

 Hayley and Ruth both share an interest in colour and shape and a love of process. This piece began with the act of drawing around each other to create a composition. 

Shapes (2018) by Ruth Williams & Hayley FieldSuffolk Artlink

Step Up Exhibition at the Asylum Gallery - Wendy Rees and Zoe Martin (2018) by Wendy Rees & Zoe MartinSuffolk Artlink

Zoe Martin and Wendy Rees

Zoe and Wendy share an interest in the natural environment. Their project initiated from exploring Constable’s ‘The Hay Wain’ and developed into reconstructing art works and compositions, derived from sketches and workshops around details in nature.

What a Difference (2018) by Wendy Rees & Zoe MartinSuffolk Artlink

Through their evolving friendship and as artist collaborators, they have grown a mutual trust in the process of reconstructing their art as one.

Theme Park (2018) by Sophie Johnson & Kasia PosenSuffolk Artlink

Sophie Johnson and Kasia Posen

Sophie and Kasia started collaborating in 2018 on a series of drawings. The artists decided to let the narrative steer the project whilst they explored materials and discovered different ways of combining their skills in mark making.

Step Up Exhibition at the Asylum Gallery -Sophie Johnson & Kasia Posen (2018) by Sophie Johnson & Kasia PosenSuffolk Artlink

Both artists enjoy developing stories and characters through the practice of drawing. This project is a shared journey of discovery as the narrative itself spurs more ideas giving the artists direction.

Sean at Step Up Exhibition (2018) by Suffolk ArtlinkSuffolk Artlink

A Celebration

The project culminated in an exhibition of work made during the project, which took place at Jerwood DanceHouse, Ipswich, and toured to Asylum Studios, Bentwaters Park in Rendlesham in October 2018.

Step Up Exhibition at the Asylum Gallery, Various, 2018, From the collection of: Suffolk Artlink
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The world of change, Wendy Rees & Zoe Martin, 2018, From the collection of: Suffolk Artlink
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The Manga Lady Sculpture and Beach Themed Masterpiece, Patrick Parker & Amy Nettleton, 2018, From the collection of: Suffolk Artlink
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The story featured may in some cases have been created by an independent third party and may not always represent the views of the institutions, listed below, who have supplied the content.
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