Rachel Grant

Textile/Mixed Media Artist

About the Artist / CV

Rachel Grant graduated from Buckinghamshire University in 1999 with a degree in Textile Design and Surface Decoration. After taking a career break to spend the early years with her two children, she became a freelance Artist in 2005.
Although heavily influenced by a textiles background her practice is by no means limited to textiles or any particular textiles medium, and she takes a mixed media approach that is directed by the contextual influences of any given project.
Her practice can be divided into two categories which is reflected in the image gallery options above. The 'Studio' work can be described as 2d mixed media on canvas panel for exhibition and purchase via traditional gallery settings. The 'People and Places' work is context driven, socially engaged practice that aims to site the work out of a gallery setting and in the location that it is created in response to.
Living and working in an area of major intervention during regeneration in Stoke-on-Trent has been a primary inspiration for Rachel and the continual process of change that she witnesses daily in both the built environment and the community that surrounds her renews and refreshes that inspiration on a regular basis.

CURRICULUM VITAE

EDUCATION

1996-1999 BA(HONS)TEXTILE DESIGN AND SURFACE DECORATION

Buckinghamshire University

High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire.

1995-1996 BTEC DIPLOMA FOUNDATION STUDIES IN ART&DESIGN

Staffordshire University, Stoke-On-Trent.

EXHIBITIONS/CREATIVE PROJECTS

2009

Longton Buzzes

A programme of creative interventions in Longton town centre as part of the 'Visioning Longton' regeneration project, led by Urban Vision North Staffordshire.

'Under One Roof' - A three month artist residency in a vacant market stall, engaging with both traders and customers to create an installation and exchange event.

Place, Space & Identity 2

The second year of a programme of interventions co-funded by the Arts Council and Renew North Staffordshire.
‘Living Room’ – A three month residency in the village of Fegg Hayes, Stoke-on-Trent, during a period of regeneration. Resulting in an exhibition/installation in an empty terraced property that was awaiting demolition.

Staffordshire Open 09

Shire Hall Gallery, Stafford.

Living Gallery

In conjunction with ‘Glassball Arts’ using a series of mixed media works digitally altered and printed on hoardings affixed to empty properties on a busy main road into the City of Stoke-on-Trent.

AA2A Residency

Six month residency in the textiles Department of Wolverhampton University.

2008

Art 34

One of fourteen artists commissioned to produce three mixed media panels in response to Chatterley Whitfield Colliery.
Exhibited at Burslem School of Art and in the permanent collection of Chatterley Whitfield Enterprise Centre.

Heirloom

Solo Exhibition
Burslem School of Art, Stoke-on-Trent

Stoke-on-Trent Open 08

The Potteries Museum and Art Gallery

Making Sense - Motherhood and Identity

Collaborative exhibition with Textile Artist Jane George.
Bilston Craft Gallery, Wolverhampton

The Big Draw

Lead Artist with Urban Vision North Staffordshire.
Smallthorne Primary School, James Brindley High School and Burslem School of Art.

The Embroiderers’ Guild

Lectures and workshops delivered to adults via the Birmingham and Solihull Embroiderers’ Guild.

2007

Place Space & Identity 1

A programme of commissions co-funded by the Arts Council and Renew North Staffs.
‘Inside Out’ - A journey following pieces of stitched and mixed media work erected on the external walls of empty homes awaiting demolition in a Stoke-on-Trent Clearance area.

Longhouse Artist’s Professional Development Residency

A three day residency in Stoke-on-Trent designed to develop skills in working within, and in response to, the public realm.

AirTrade Auction

AirSpace Gallery and Staffordshire University, Stoke-on-Trent

Smallworks

Four mixed media panels exhibited across Leicestershire with Mantle Arts in a 6’x4’ converted shed.

Midlands Textile Forum Launch Exhibition

Group Exhibition.
Birmingham City University and Droitwich Library Gallery

Arts and Crafts Show

Selected Exhibition
Borough Museum and Art Gallery, Newcastle-Under-Lyme.

Stafford Open 07

Exhibiting within the Open show
Shire Hall Gallery, Stafford.

Views

Solo exhibition
Shire Hall Gallery, Stafford.

Viewing Change-Changing Views

Solo exhibition.
Burslem School of Art, Stoke-On-Trent.

2006

Longhouse Action Research Commission

Examining individual experiences of housing market renewal in Stoke-On-Trent and the role of the Artist in relationship to the process.
LONGHOUSE, West Bromwich.

Artist in Residence

A six week residency within a reminiscence group exploring themes of changing views and identities through reminiscence and mixed media artwork.

King Charles VI Community Centre, Hanley, Stoke-On-Trent.

The Postcard Show 06

Surface Gallery, Nottingham.

Stoke-On-Trent Open 06

The Potteries Museum and Art Gallery, Stoke-On-Trent.

Threads of Creativity

Guest Lecturer and exhibitor.

St. Martins in the Bullring, Birmingham.

Exploring the relationship between Art and Regeneration.

Guest Lecturer