Exhibitions

MAY

SOUTHBANK BRISTOL ART TRAIL sbaweb.co.uk
Main Bar ~ 29th April - 19th May
Green Room ~ 14th - 19th May

The Southbank Bristol Arts Trail will be a weekend ~ 18th & 19th May ~ of arts and performance in homes, churches, community centres and public houses around Southville, Bedminster and Ashton. Over 50 venues will be opening to show work from over 150 artists, makers, performers, musicians, and others.

Artists exhibiting with us this year are:
Carys-Ink
Mark Hadlow
Stephen Quick
Stu Watkin
Graham Williams
Leanne Winter

MAY / JUNE

UPFEST 2013 - CRAFTED WITH POSCA upfest.co.uk
Main Bar & Green Room ~ 20th May - 23rd June
WEEKEND: 25th & 26th May

Europe’s largest street art festival is coming up again in Bristol for
the May Bank holiday. It’s set to be a massive weekend, with artists painting a total of 20,000sqft of surfaces during thefestival. Some of the best in international graffiti will be taking over subway trains and skate parks in the area, including: Faith47 (South Africa), DALeast (China), C215 (France), Peeta (Italy) as well as local Bristol graffers Turroe, Inkie and loads more.

The festival continues to raise money for NACOA (The National
Association for Children of Alcoholics), with hundreds of urban artists
heading to Bedminster, South Bristol which is kitted out with pop up
bars, urban stalls and live music for the event.

RSVP here

JULY

ROBBIE SPARKS camsecure.co.uk/robsart
Main Bar ~ 24th June - 27th July

“Why is there something rather than nothing?”

Since the dawn of quantum mechanics in the early 20th Century, it has been known by science that the physical world allows one thing to be in two places at the same time. Striving to create unique and diverse modern contemporary art on canvas and board, Robbie Sparks works with paint often focusing on the circle spinning, becoming a sphere and plays on notions of abstract, texture geometry and colour.

Exploring themes of the hidden world around us Robbie's work hints at the unseen scientific world competing with our limited human senses. Robbie explains an example, "the existence of the rainbow depends on the conical photoreceptors in your eyes; to animals without cones, the rainbow does not exist – so you don’t just look at the rainbow, you create it! This is pretty amazing especially considering that all beautiful colours you see represent less than 1% of the electromagnetic spectrum."

"Man, know thyself in true proportion" (Oracle of Delphi)

HEIDI NOWAK hnowak.blogspot.co.uk
Green Room ~ 24th June - 27th July

Traveling drawer and painter Heidi Nowak sets out to capture observations that simply make her smile and ask questions. Mixing reality with a world of nonsense enables everyone to laugh at life’s realities

The view of the world behind the eyes of Heidi is expressed through the means of characters both imagined and real, and a self-reflective conversation within the drawings becomes evident through the fusing of naive lines and simple colours.

Inspired by everyday life, self-critiques, people met and interactions witnessed, the work pokes fun at human habits in a slightly quirky way.

AUGUST

SHIRLEY SHARP shirleysharp.com
Main Bar ~ 29th July - 31st August

Absurdus

A collection of drawings and paintings in which human situations are presented both as normal and absurd at the same time.

Shirley graduated in Illustration in 2004 from University West of England and has exhibited paintings and drawings on a regular basis since then, but more recently with the emphasis on drawing.

SEPTEMBER

HANNAH BAILEY hannah-bailey.co.uk
Green Room ~ 2nd - 28th September

A collection of recent work by Bristol-based illustrator Hannah Bailey on the theme of wordplays and whereabouts, with drawings and paintings inspired by oddments such as topiary, orchestras and pondlife to name but a few.

For further information about our Exhibitions or if you'd like to display here, please email Dave Bain art@tobaccofactory.com

PREVIOUS EXHIBITIONS

RED watch the video here
Green Room ~ 1 - 13th May

A collection of Bristol illustrators from across the city, many from Drawn in Bristol, are producing pieces on the theme of Red, to sell during the Red Cross’s annual fundraising week, and raise awareness of its work helping people in crisis in the UK and overseas.

The highlight of the exhibition will be the live-drawing event at 7pm on May 9 during which local artists will illustrate a huge canvas bearing the Red Cross’s campaigning message - "Refusing to Ignore People in Crisis". As the evening progresses the words will become clearer and the whole event will be captured in a time-lapse film released via social media.

The evening will be rounded off with a silent auction of one-off creations, such as original paintings, printed t-shirts and screen prints, by well-known local artists and makers, also in the colour Red, with a percentage of the profits going to the Red Cross.

NIGEL SHIPLEY nigelshipley.com
Main Bar ~ 1st - 28th April

Bristol Cityscapes
"Is it possible to paint a cityscape that at a glance lets you hear the wind, or feel the sunshine? This is what my paintings try to do. To achieve this I stand outdoors and paint directly from the scene. Many artists work from photographs or sketches in a studio, but I find that only by being out there in all weathers while painting can I capture the heat of the sun, glassy flatness of the water, or cool of a shadow. Sometimes the force of the wind is expressed by the energetic application of paint or the stillness of a sunny day by the smoothness of the paint and softness of colours. I paint the forgotten corners of the city at all times of the year." Nigel Shipley studied at Harrow and Norwich Schools of Art, and has painted Bristol cityscapes since 2005.

FRANCES WHITFIELD cargocollective.com/francesmwhitfield
Green Room ~ 1st - 28th April

SKIRR
skirr - verb [ intrans. ] rare. a whirring sound, as of the wings of birds in flight: five dark birds rose skirring away. (removed from dictionary)

After recently graduating from an illustration degree, Frances is starting her career as a painter/illustrator, living between Bristol, the Welsh Boarders and Paris. Frances uses traditional mediums and her current work is inspired by the uncontrollable passing of time, and it's effect on nature and mankind.

THE ART COLLECTIVE theartcollective.com
Main Bar & Green Room ~ 7th -30th March

The Art Collective is a not for profit gallery showcasing the best of today's leading contemporary artists. Artists on show will include award winning photographer Celine Marchbank showcasing works from 'a portrait of the River Wye' alongside AOP nominee and rising star Courvoisier 500/Observer Ben Gold, who will be showing his Festival Nights and Window breaks works.

Paintings will be also be in the exhibition including Exeter based Susie David, Internationally renowed artist Andrew Crane, Maria Kuipers, Matt Phillips, Lance Hewison and founder of The Art Collective, Pauline Richards.

BREAK A LEAD ~ UWE SHOWCASE breakalead.tumblr.com
Main Bar ~ 7th February - 2nd March

Break a Lead is a collaboration between third year illustration students at UWE.

In a few months time they will be graduating, ready to take on the challenge of becoming professional illustrators in a busy and exciting creative industry. Whilst some work is in response to live briefs and competitions, other pieces have come from personal projects.

With eclectic styles, varied themes & diverse motif, this exhibition aims to impress and inspire.

ENYA LACHMAN-CURL enyalachmancurl.co.uk
Main Bar ~ 4th January - 2nd February

After recently graduating from a Fine Art degree at Central Saint Martins Enya is just beginning her career as a painter. While studying she became interested in the science and tradition of mixing paints from raw pigment. “In a consumer society where there is a prevailing apathy towards commodities I think it is important to consider the origins of the materials we use and craftsmanship that is often overlooked.”

ORCA DESIGN ~ PRINT SHOWCASE onlyorca.com
Green Room ~ 4th January - 2nd February

orca is James Ewin and Joel Alexander; a young design collaborative based in Bristol, UK. As well as running their own design house, they have recently produced a stunning set of typographical prints.

Drawn in Bristol presents ~ BIKES drawninbristol.co.uk
Green Room ~ 10th - 30th December

Members from local illustration collective display a set of work based on our love of bikes, featuring: Dave Bain, Michelle Barker (pictured), Holly Maguire, Zoe Darnell & Hannah Broadway.

Christmas decorations adorn our Main Bar space throughout December.

JAMES MORTON & MILLIE GLEESON artgallery.co.uk/artist/james_morton
Main Bar & Green Room ~ 29th October - 30th November

James studied at The University Of The West Of England from 2003 - 2006. Since then he has moved to various countries around the world doing mostly private commissions. He now lives and paints in Bristol. Millie Gleeson joins him for this special double-bill show.

100 HOUSES 100houses.tumblr.com
Main Bar ~ 16th - 30th November

'100 Houses' brings together 100 national and international image-makers from illustrators to street artists in support of housing and homelessness charity Shelter.

Given the theme of "house" each artist has produced a unique piece of artwork specifically for this exhibition. Sales from the 100 original pieces of artwork hope to generate a significant contribution to the ongoing work of the charity Shelter in its work to help people find and keep a decent home.

ROS CUTHBERT RWA roscuthbert.co.uk
Main Bar ~ 1st - 27th October

Ros, a singer as well as a painter, is exploring musical and theatrical themes in her current work. Ideas are gathered from a variety of sources including photographs of street musicians and professional performers, film stills, sketches made at concerts and at the theatre, as well as from the experience of performing and from the music itself.

She is a Royal West of England Academician and a member of the St Ives Society of Artists. Her work is in public collections including the Contemporary Arts Society, the National Portrait Gallery and the V & A; and in many private collections.

KAT ORTON
Green Room ~ 3rd - 27th October

'Stained glass with a twist' is perhaps the best way to describe Kat Orton's work. Using coloured glass in combination with techniques such as leading, sandblasting and traditional glass painting, she creates dark and evocative pieces on a variety of themes - from the nautical to the natural - all brought to life in gently glowing lightboxes.

A writer first and foremost, her work often has an illustrative, 'storybook' feel, intent on sailing away with the viewer's imagination. Commissions are welcome: en00kdo@hotmail.com

OLIVER HOLDEN oliverholdenartist.co.uk
Main Bar ~ 3rd - 29th September

Uncertain Bristol: Notion/Capture Series XI
Notion/Capture is an ongoing process that explores the possibility of visually representing the formation of memory through photography. The way in which a viewer interprets discernible information in a photograph relies heavily on experience and memory. With this, one reconstructs a certain memory through thought; fragmented, multi-levelled and fluid but with information lacking at certain points. Despite this, perception attempts to fill in the information. Smell, sound and touch enters the equation, transforming the original visual memory into a multi-dimensional sensory experience. Each capture attempts to do just that. Not to "copy"what is visually seen, but to represent the atmosphere at the point of shutter close. To encourage the viewer to delve into ones memory and experience to complete the picture.

Uncertain Bristol focuses on the heart of Bristol's historic industrious landmarks, the docks, factories and railways. These raw materials are striking form, power and grandeur, delivered through the lens of an affected manual film camera under uncertain visceral circumstances. Once captured, the results visually emulate certain stages of memory reconstruction whilst challenging the perception of the viewer

NATALIE BUSH tilbush@hotmail.co.uk
Green Room ~ 3rd - 29th September

Focusing on a range of birds, fish and other creatures, which may not ordinarily be noticed for their beauty, Natalie Bush breathes a new lease of life through creating them in colourful felts and hand stitching.This collection centres on her fascination with British wildlife, a passion since childhood.

Natalie studied Graphic Design at Bower Ashton and since then has continued to produce illustration based artwork with personal themes including memory and home.

ANDREW SUTHERLAND andrewsutherland.co.za
Main Bar & Green Room ~ 6th August - 1st September

Andrew Sutherland's work is at once both playful and charming. It reveals his ability to see the world in all its light and laughter, a window into a world of wonder and surprise. Andrew uses a mixture of collage and acrylic paint to bring his images to life, the completed work jumps at the viewer in its boldness and use of stark yet intricate colours. One is immediately drawn towards the canvas, where scrutiny reveals delicate details, worked touches of collage and paint techniques which bring the viewer into conversation with the work. The resulting narrative often seems to inform the intent of the work, Sutherland's vivid imagination opens a realm where each thing, be it object or animal, has a story of its own. Often the narrative is reflective in nature and in conjunction with the work transport the viewer into a dreamy state, where beauty blossoms in colour and composition. Other times he pokes fun at our human endeavors, contrasting in scale and meaning, and much like the Rubik's Cube often presents one with a problem not easily solved.

GEOFF OKE geoffreyoke.blogspot.com
Main Bar ~ 2nd July - 5th August

Taking inspiration from the Welsh landscape, Geoff Oke paintings strive to capture the cycle of nature in complex layers of etherial texture. A master of mark making, glazing and the structure of paint Oke evokes fleeting memories of the wildness of nature and the transitory elements that make up the world around us.

Living and working in Aberystwyth, Geoff describes how, "drawings of the gnarled roots of a tree have provided a starting point recently. This initial composition can change many times; passages of paint, interesting areas of texture or vague forms emerging, become catalysts to take the painting in a particular direction."

Tobacco Factory are hosting seven of Geoff's most recent artworks.

Drawn in Bristol presents NATALIE HUGHES drawninbristol.co.uk
Green Room ~ 3rd July - 5th August

ITCHY FEET

Drawn in Bristol presents local illustrator Natalie Hughes' original artwork on themes of travel. With a closing party planned for later in July (watch this space!) you can catch this new show of work for the best part of July. All originals, collages and prints available to buy.

UPFEST upfest.co.uk
Main Bar & Green Room ~ 2nd - 4th June(exhibition continues til end of June)

Europe's largest free urban paint festival; Upfest, is now in its fifth year and is preparing to take over its cultural home Bristol by welcoming over 250 artists and 40 DJs, Groups & Human Beatboxers.

'The Urban Paint Festival' is now firmly established as the main event for street art in Europe. The two day explosion of events attracts urban artists from all over the world who flock to Tobacco Factory - the festival's birthplace, as well as a number of locations across the city.

MAY

SOUTHBANK BRISTOL ART TRAIL
Main Bar ~ 14th May - 25th May

The tenth Southbank Bristol Arts Trail will be a weekend of arts and performance in homes, churches, community centres and public houses around Southville, Bedminster and Ashton. Over 50 venues will be opening to show work from over 150 artists, makers, performers, musicians, and others.

This year we will be showing work from: Leanne Winter | Mike Rome
Antony Smith | Jon Ricks | Stu Watkin (Oshe Design) | Graham Williams
Adriana Dorsett

SEARCHING OTTO searchingotto.com
Green Room ~ 14th May - 25th May

On display is a project consisting of a short film and stills photography, demonstrating the crossover of these two disciplines. The short film, shot with a micro budget, on location in Bedminster is portraying a character that represents alienation, showing the fragility of identity in a reconstructed world. With fine art and photographic influences, the moving images have the behavior of the static presence of a photo.

The photography work shown is a balance between the narrative story and its aesthetics. All of them are calling the movement of the cinematic experience into the frozen moment of time. The use of these parallel disciplines add more layers of significance by applying stills photography to film production, with the aim to show the narrow gap and their ability to merge together. Presenting final degree work, the whole exhibition has a touch of comfortable taxidermy, cold fire and awkward silence.

ALEC JACKSON post-photography.co.uk
Main Bar ~ 30th April - 12th May

'Post-Photography' Part of Bristol Festival of Photography

Alec Jacksonsï¿½ work, although created within the environment of a traditional colour darkroom, exists on the outer fringes of what photography is. It explores the very nature of the photographic process to produce unique images by painting and manipulating light to create lavish and colourful vistas.

Rather than recording the world around him, he uses a combination of coloured filters, acetate, film, brushes made out of fibre optics and controlled exposure through an enlarger, literally painting with light directly onto photographic paper. The way in which he works means that each photograph is created by hand, and are always ï¿½an originalï¿½.

MICHAEL REEVES michaelreevesphotography.com
Green Room ~ 30th April - 12th May

Recollections ~ Part of Bristol Festival of Photography

Michael Reeves is an award-winning fine art photographer based in Bristol with a BA in Photography from Hereford College of Arts. His work has been shown in numerous exhibitions in both the UK and the US. He works almost exclusively with film, utilising a variety of camera types to capture his images.

This exhibition brings together work from several series. For 'Fragments', Michael searches out neglected or abandoned objects and uses a plastic lo-fi Holga camera to bring out the beauty of these found still lifes. In other work, inspired by childhood memories, he revisits places such as fairgrounds and the seaside.