Nicola Wiltshire
Degree: MFA Art and Humanties
University: University of Dundee
Graduation Year: 2015
New Blood Art Commentary
Read: A Day in the Studio of Nicola Wiltshire
Read more about Nicola's studio practice.
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Solo show at Paul Smith
Little Van Gogh Residency
Nicola Wiltshire’s paintings hold absorbingly bold forms, which immediately capture the viewer's attention. She was listed as an artist to watch in The Guardian, has held a number of solo exhibitions, most recently with the fashion designer Paul Smith, plus has had work included in group shows across the UK. Nicola was awarded an artist residency with Little Van Gogh, plus undertook a six-month Artist Residency at Halley Stevensons, who manufacture waxed cotton for clients such as Barbour from their Dundee factory. Often made with oil paint and charcoal on patterned fabric, Nicola's use of heavy linear structures resemble expressionistic styles whilst flat colour and striking use of pattern give her subjects unusual and therapeutic dimensions. The rendition of each piece lends it an evocatively striking impact. The line and form are fluid and diverse, allowing her subjects to portray illusive identities and an intriguing subjectivity. The use of colour is similarly exciting; mixed hues create muddied and pastel shades, which are placed in contrast of one another, side by side. This creates a stimulating juxtaposition of a calming sensibility whilst conversely adding ambiguous tensions. Her ongoing series of still lifes has been particularly successful at capturing the tactile qualities of the fabric she paints on - her trademark style - in these paintings, fabrics such as Toile de Jouy, patterned linen and William Morris-inspired prints become decorative vases for high-pigment representations of house plants and seasonal wildflowers. These paintings, along with her portraits and landscapes, have attracted a loyal collector base; many of whom own more than one of these paintings in their collection. She continues to paint with integrity - using high quality oil paints, many that she makes by hand in her studio and is beginning to explore other traditional processes such as handmaking pastel crayons.
Artist Statement
Colour is fundamental to my practice, as is the cycle of observing and recording everyday life. My paintings are stylistically contemporary, yet deeply rooted in art history and the rich heritage of oil painting. I use techniques that refer back to centuries-old traditions, such as making my own oil paint and pastels, but paint on coloured and patterned fabric - instead of canvas - for the dynamic and tactile foundation it lays. I am fascinated by the domestic quality of textiles and how this lends itself to my paintings, which move between traditional genres of portrait, landscape and still life. I paint domestic interiors, flowers from the garden, woodland walks and the rolling hills as seen from the window of a train. These are snapshots of an average life, transformed with colour, curiosity and imagination: the result of my quiet observations of the world around me.
Solo Exhibitions
(2023) Midnight Oil, Paul Smith, London
(2021) Flickering Lights, Trickling Dream, The Jam Factory, Oxford
(2019) The Other Art Fair, Kings Cross, London
(2018) The Loom Runs. The Smoke Rises, The Meffan Gallery, Forfar, Scotland
(2017) A Beacon In Darkness, Alien Hole Gallery, Inverness, Scotland
(2017) The Loom Runs. The Smoke Rises, Verdant Works, Dundee, Scotland
(2017) Liberty Landscapes, Pittenweem Arts Festival, Fife, Scotland
(2016) Dundee Icons, Roseangle Gallery, Dundee, Scotland
(2016) Contemporary Icons, Hartlepool Art Gallery, Durham, England
(2015) Dundee Icons, Duncan Of Jordanstone College Of Art And Design, Dundee, Scotland
Group Exhibitions
(2023) Members' Show, Generator Projects, Dundee
(2022) Winter Exhibition, Select Gallery, London
(2022) NORTH, Visual Arts Scotland, Inverness
(2021) Members' Show, Generator Projects, Dundee
(2021) In The Flesh, Dock Street Studios, Dundee
(2021) Summer Series 5, Pittenweem Arts Festival, Fife
(2021) SURGE, Tatha Gallery, Fife
(2020) On The Table, Curated by Julie-Ann Simpson, Online
(2020) Winter Exhibition, Select Gallery, London
(2020) F L O W, Visual Arts Scotland, Online
(2019) The Secret Garden, Pittenweem Arts Festival, Fife
(2019) Royal Scottish Academy Annual Exhibition, Royal Scottish Academy, Edinburgh
(2019) Alight, Royal Scottish Academy, Edinburgh, Scotland
(2018) Current, Tatha Gallery, Newport-on-Tay, Scotland
(2018) The Net Loft, Pittenweem Arts Festival, Fife, Scotland
(2018) Fractured 2, Studio 11, Dundee, Scotland
(2017) Winter Exhibition, The Meffan Gallery, Forfar, Scotland
(2016) Winter Exhibition, Gallery Heinzel, Aberdeen, Scotland
(2016) Mixed Exhibition, Dundas Street Gallery, Edinburgh, Scotland
(2016) Tighnabruaich Art Gallery, Edinburgh Art Fair, Edinburgh, Scotland
(2016) VAU Members' Show, St Margaret's House, Edinburgh, Scotland
(2016) Mandala, Image Collective, Edinburgh, Scotland
(2016) Identity Through Landscape, House For An Art Lover, Glasgow, Scotland
(2016) Stuffed Gallery, Newave Art Gallery, Aberdeen, Scotland
(2016) Where Our Minds Are Now, Tin Roof, Dundee, Scotland
(2016) Folk Art, Folk Cafe Gallery, Dundee, Scotland
(2015) This Must Be The Place, Meadow Mill, Dundee, Scotland
(2015) Liverpool Art Fair, Pier Head Village, Liverpool, England
(2014) Saudades, CCOB, Barcelos, Portugal
(2014) Language/Lingua, CCOB, Barcelos, Portugal
(2014) Time/Tempo, CCOB, Barcelos, Portugal
(2014) Line/Linha, CCOB, Barcelos, Portugal
(2012) New Rad, Radcliffe and Newlands Ltd, London, England
(2011) Responsive Eye, London Gallery West, London, England
(2010) Luxury Goods: The Role Of Art, The Courtyard Theatre, London, England
(2009) Polyglot, Ambika P3, London, England
(2009) Icons, London Gallery West, London, England
(2008) News From Nowhere, London Gallery West, London, England
(2008) LaLaLa Exhibition, 491 Gallery, London, England
Competitions, Prizes & Awards
(2010) Juliet Gomperts Trust Award
(2014) Leonardo Da Vinci Project Scholarship
(2015) Thomas And Margaret Roddan Trust Award
(2015) Dundee Visual Artists + Craft Makers Award
(2017) The Meffan Gallery Purchase Prize Commendation
(2017) Pittenweem Art Festival Bursary Award
