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.
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.
