Curriculum Vitae

Jill Evans

Fine Art

Art and Design

E-mail: jill@jillevans.co.uk

Born in Wolverhampton, lived and worked in Birmingham, Nottingham, London and Surrey.

A connection to the physical landscape instigated my early abstract paintings at Chelsea; on the Drawing MA at Wimbledon and continues to inform my practice today.

I question the direct and physical response we encounter with our surroundings. A selective process where the experiences of each viewer are embedded in their perception and inform as remnants of memories reconnect and allow an individual interpretation of my work.

MA Drawing and Critical Practice - Wimbledon College of Art: 2013
PGCE in Secondary Education, Art and Design - Institute of Education, University of London: 1996
Fine Art BA (Hons) 2.1, Painting - Chelsea College of Art and Design: 1993
Fine Art Foundation (Distinction) - Reigate School of Art and Design: 1990
Design Diploma in Professional Studies/Fashion - Wolverhampton Polytechnic: 1970

Teaching / HOD - ‘A’ Level and GCSE Art/Textiles: 1994-2007
Occasional visiting tutor on Foundation and BTEC

Freelance Illustrator, specialising in figures for magazine editorial, advertising and publishing: 1973-88
Fashion Designer/Pattern cutter: 1970-73

Art Licks/ Deptford X, Murmurations, Drawing Connections, Harts lane, Deptford 2019
Micrographity, Hertogenbosch, Holland, Drawing Connections, May 2019
Brighton Open House, Drawing Connections 2018
A Many Sided Thing, A Residency of Collaborations. Drawing Connections, Wimbledon Space 2017
A side B side Gallery, Drawing Connections group show London 2016
David Gluck Memorial Drawing Bursary, Mall Gallery November 2013
South East Cancer help Charity, Purley, October 2013
MA Final Show, Wimbleledon Space 2013
Dawn on Site, Pop up Residency, Transition Dorking May 2013
Drawing Show - The National Gallery March 2013
Wimbledon College of Art - Foyer Gallery 2012
Oaks Park Open Studios 2003 to 2019
Tres Ole – Ole Gallery Putney 2008
Honeywood Museum May 2008
Chichester Open Nov 2005
WAS Open Studios 2000-02
The Byker Art Show, Newcastle-upon-Tyne – 1993 shown on BBC2 - 2 July 1993
Atrium Gallery, Whiteleys, London "Brush with a Future" 1993
Cranfield Conference Centre, Milton Keynes 1991

Chelsea College of Art – The Deans Collection
Cranfield Conference Centre
Private collectors

Statement

Art is about recognition, the identification through a continuous act of comparison in what we see, hear, touch and notice.

I walk, I look, I find.

Investigating how tiny differences connect and evoke recognition remains my motivation, what elements might be retained within our memory?

I examine how drawing might enquire and communicate the little differences I find that could reveal a link to specific place. I respond, connect and explore the impact of walking, drawing and recollection.

Thoughts that dictate my drawing and painting are activated using simple materials; graphite, fluid charcoal, dust, ink, chalk, wax, paint. Materials that reflect and inform the site of the work; here, now, its presence reflects back into history, culture and place.

A painting can start from anywhere, an insignificant detail, the density of yellow road paint, a pathway worn through generations of use, a vast space and sounds that fill it, a worn stone where two rivers meet, the weave of a shirt fabric.

These observations are stored and used later without their reference to nature.

My paintings intentionally appear deceptively open and simplistic. As an abstract artist the physicality of the painting and formalist concerns of line, tone, form and structure are the main considerations. A painting evolves from the first decision, often directed by colour, dilute or dense , it may be contained within the edges, stop short or spill over. Tensions are built across the surface of the painting, determined through temporal recollections.

The physicality and rhythms disturb and appear to unbalance the viewer. The colour and its quality has a purpose, it is both itself and it creates directions, reinforces, alters, disrupts, re-arranges. Horizontals and verticals become visible. Visual differences build relationships within the layers exposing or concealing as the painting simply reveals itself.

Please contact me with any queries or comments and for sales information.

Drawing Connections is a group of 22 artists who have chosen to work collaboratively through the medium of drawing in its broadest sense, to challenge both their individual practices, and understanding of what contemporary drawing can be.

Contact

To get in touch email jill@jillevans.co.uk or use the form below. Thank you.