Step Up

 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.

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. 

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

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.

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. 

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

 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. 

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.

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

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.

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.