RITA KEARTON: ARTIST’S PROFILE

 

I have been a full-time artist since 2003 specialising in collagraph and drypoint prints which have been represented in national and international exhibitions.

 

1968-1969          Foundation Course, Coventry College of Art & Design

1969-1973          B.Ed. (Hons) Art & Education, St Mary’s College of Education

1994-1998          M.Ed (Distinction) Art & Education, University of Exeter

1974-2002          Various teaching positions in Middlesex & Norfolk

2006-2008          Short Course Tutor West Dean College, Chichester

 

WORK EXHIBITED

 

2002-2003          Eastern Open Exhibition, King’s Lynn,Norfolk

2002-2010          Norwich Print Fair Norwich

2003                    Art of Imagination Exhibition, London, New York, Miami

2003                    Solo Exhibition, West Acre River Studios, West Acre, Norfolk

2003-2004          Skylark 2 Gallery, London

2004                    Ten Etchers Etching, Rostra Gallery, Bath

2004                    Images 28, The Mall Galleries, London

2004                    The King of Hearts, Norwich

2005                    Exhibition & Demonstration at Art In Action, Oxfordshire

2005-2006          Webbs Road Fine Art, London

2006-2011          Byard Art Gallery, Cambridge

2006-2009          Exhibition at Country Living Spring Fair, London

2006-2009          Exhibition & Demonstration at Patchings Art Festival, Nottingham

2006                    West Dean College, Chichester

2006-2011          The Crooked House Gallery, Lavenham, Suffolk

2007-2011          Appleyard Gallery, Holt, Norfolk

2008-2011          Frivoli Gallery, Chiswick, London

2009                    The Affordable Art Fair, New York

 

AWARDS:           Derwent Award, Patchings Art Centre, Nottingham 2006

 

Commissioned Work

 

2004                    Norfolk & Norwich University Hospital, Norwich

2006                    Woodmansterne Publications Ltd

 

Work Published

 

2004                    Images 28 The Association of Illustrators

2004                    Johnny Went To Africa by J. Burch & R. Kearton (Phygtyles Press)

2004                    Poetry Monthly Issue 96

2007                    Artseast, Cambridge Newspapers Ltd. September Issue

2009                    Two Bad Mice Publishers Ltd

 

About My Work

 

My work is figurative with images based on memories, dreams and stories.  My drawing is often naive showing little concern for perspective, scale or realism as I feel this gives me greater freedom to create my own imaginary world, a world that provides a bridge between dream and reality

 

Collagraphs are prints taken from collages assembled on cardboard plates.  Drypoint prints are taken from plastic plates which have been engraved with a drypoint tool.

 

I use oil based intaglio inks to colour the plates. In transferring the image to the paper, subtle transformations in colour, line and texture take place which I find endlessly fascinating.

 

Editions of original prints range from 3 to 20 due to the finite life of the cardboard and plastic plates.   They vary in colour, texture and tonality and are often hand painted in watercolour.