Louise Bird
I have been working as an artist in the Eastern Region for over 15 years.
Natural history has always been the main inspiration behind my work. During my studies for a degree in Fine Art Printmaking at Norwich School of Art and Design, I became fascinated with the Honeybee, looking at its language, habitat and behaviour. What triggered this fascination was seeing an observational hive, where you can see the internal structure of the honeycomb, as well as observe the behaviour of the bees themselves. I was also inspired by Graham Sutherlands series of etchings based on the life cycle of honeybees.
First hand involvement and study of the subject matter is very important to me and subsequently I went on to keep my own bees. Ever since, I have found this subject, to be my main inspiration and my concern for the conservation of bees has led me to continue producing work on this subject, hoping to make people more aware of the need to conserve our natural habitats.
Primarily a Printmaker, I produce large layered Monoprints using a sheet of steel. Ink is applied to the metal plate using rollers and worked into before being printed through an etching press. To create the effect of coloured layers which have a semi transparency, I use translucent inks. These prints often involve stencils and can sometimes contain many layers. Between printings or after all the layers have been printed, I may also decide to draw and paint. Working in this way makes each piece completely unique and not reproducible in any way. These works are never completely planned from beginning to end, allowing for decisions to be made throughout the process. The most appealing thing about printmaking to me is the unpredictability and ability to experiment.
I also produce a range of Etchings and Collagraphs.
C.V
Education and Training
1991 - 1994 Norfolk Institute of Art and Design, Norwich.
BA Hons. Fine Art (2:1), specialising in printmaking.
1990 - 1991 Norfolk Institute of Art and Design, Norwich.
Foundation course in Art and Design.
1988 - 1990 Norwich City College, Norwich.
'A' level Art and Design, Grade 'A'.
Diploma in Pre-Professional Art and Design, with Distinction.
GCSE level Psychology, Grade 'C'.
1985 - 1988 Benjamin Britten High School, Lowestoft.
6 GCSE's
Grade A: Art and Design, English
Grade B: English Literature.
Grade C: Mathematics, Science 1, Science 2.
1980 - 1990 The Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music.
(Part time) Grade 1 to Grade 8 Pianoforte. Grade 5 Theory of Music.
Employment
April 2001 Part-time Web Designer and Graphic Artist
- Present Location: Cube Connection Ltd, Framingham Earl, Norfolk
Tasks: Designer of websites, producing the original concept through to the finished graphics, mainly using Adobe Photoshop.
The work can also involve other design projects as required.
Sept. 1996 Part-time Evening Course Tutor in Fine Art Printmaking
- April 1998 Location: Norwich City College
Tasks: Running my own Fine Art Printmaking evening course, which covered many print techniques. This involved acting as technician as well as teacher.
Nov. 1995 Part-time Lecturer in Fine Art Printmaking
- Dec. 1995 Location: Norwich School of Art and Design
Tasks: Running printmaking workshops for Foundation students.
Sept. 1995 Part-time Lecturer in Fine Art Printmaking
- Oct. 1995 Location: Norwich City College
Tasks: Running printmaking workshops for access to art and GNVQ students.
Exhibitions
Sept 2007 The Norwich Print Fair, Norwich
Sept 2006 The Norwich Print Fair, Norwich
July 2006 The Forum, Norwich Print Fair Elements
June 2006 Welborne Arts Festival Norwich print Fair Exhibition
May 2006 The Ella Lyon Gallery, Wicklewood, Norfolk - Inaugural Exhibition
Mar 2006 The Affordable Art Fair, Battersea, London
Nov 2005 The T Lounge, Norwich 4 Dimensional
Sept 2005 The Norwich Print Fair, Norwich
Aug 2005 The Forum, Norwich The Norwich print Fair, 10th Anniversary
May 2005 The Bristol Art Fair, Bristol
April 2005 The Crooked House Gallery, Lavenham The Birds and the Bees
April 2005 Parallel House, Guildford, Surrey Defined Art, Launch
Mar 2005 The Grapevine Gallery, Norwich Do Different
Mar 2005 The Affordable Art Fair, Battersea, London
Jan 2005 Royal College of Art, London Art on Paper
Nov 2004 The Chocolate Factory, London - Exhibition
Nov 2004 The Mall Galleries, London So Art - Virtually Real
Sept 2004 The Mall Galleries, London Society of Wildlife Artists Exhibition
Sept 2004 The Norwich Print Fair, Norwich
May 2004 The Bristol Art Fair, Bristol
April 2004 Life Gallery, Colchester Gainsboroughs House Printmakers
April 2004 The Chelsea Art Fair, London
April 2004 The Glasgow Art Fair, Glasgow, Scotland
Mar 2004 The Affordable Art Fair, Battersea, London
Jan 2004 Royal College of Art, London Art on Paper
Nov 2003 The Chocolate Factory, London - Exhibition
Sept 2003 The Norwich Print Fair, Norwich
May 2003 The Affordable Art Fair, Bristol
May 2003 Sproughton Tithe Barn, Ipswich - Exhibition
April 2003 Great Walsingham Gallery, Norfolk - Exhibition
Mar 2003 The Affordable Art Fair, Battersea, London
Sept 2002 The Norwich Print Fair, Norwich
Feb 2002 The Affordable Art Fair, Battersea, London
Nov 2001 Saunders and Senior, Norwich Christmas Exhibition
Sept 2001 Norwich Print Fair, Norwich
Mar 2001 Skylark Studios, Wisbech Louise Bird & Gary Martin
Sept 2000 Norwich Print Fair, Norwich
May 2000 Sproughton Tithe Barn, Ipswich Exhibition
Feb 2000 Saunders and Senior, Norwich Louise Bird & Karen Binney
Nov 1999 Saunders and Senior, Norwich Christmas Exhibition
Aug 1999 Grapevine Gallery, Norwich Artists in Print Exhibition
July 1999 Saunders and Senior, Norwich Summer Exhibition
May 1999 Sproughton Tithe Barn, Ipswich Exhibition
April 1999 Great Walsingham Gallery, Norfolk Artists in Print Exhibition
Jan 1999 Advice Arcade Gallery, Norwich Animal Exhibition
Nov 1998 King of Hearts, Norwich - Christmas Exhibition
Nov 1998 The University Club, Oxford Print Fair goes to Oxford Exhibition
Sept 1998 Norwich Print Fair, Norwich
Aug 1998 Saunders and Senior, Norwich - Exhibition
May 1998 The Atrium, Whiteleys, London - Quantum Contemporary Art, 100 Artists Exhibition
Dec 1997 King of Hearts, Norwich - Christmas Exhibition
Nov 1997 Great Walsingham Gallery, Norfolk - Christmas Exhibition
Nov 1997 Saunders and Senior, Norwich - Christmas Exhibition
Sept 1997 IBM, Hursley, Hants Exhibition
Sept 1997 Norfolk and Norwich Hospital - Hospital Arts and Heritage Project
Aug 1997 Saunders and Senior, Norwich - Exhibition
Aug 1997 Norwich Print Fair, Norwich
May 1997 Brazen Head Bookshop and Gallery, Burnham Market, Norfolk - Solo Show
May 1997 Studio 6, Muspole Workshops, Norwich - Open Studio
May 1997 Advice Arcade Gallery, Norwich - Picture This Exhibition Organised by the Norfolk and Norwich Festival
April 1997 The Atrium, Whiteleys, London - Quantum Contemporary Art, 100 Artists Exhibition
April 1997 Beatrice Royal Art Gallery, Eastleigh, Hants - The Natural World
Jan 1997 Saunders and Senior, Norwich - Exhibition
Dec 1996 King of Hearts, Norwich - Christmas Exhibition
Sept 1996 Beatrice Royal Art Gallery, Eastleigh, Hants. - Fruits of the Earth
June 1996 Beatrice Royal Art Gallery, Eastleigh, Hants. - Summer Exhibition
April 1996 Norwich Print Fair, Norwich
Dec 1995 King of Hearts, Norwich - Christmas Exhibition
Oct 1995 Great Walsingham Gallery, Norfolk Exhibition
June 1995 Suffolk Wildlife Trust, Carlton Marshes Centre, - Display
May 1995 Norwich Print Fair, Norwich
Mar 1995 Halesworth Art Gallery, Halesworth, Suffolk - Wildlife Exhibition
Jan 1995 Beatrice Royal Art Gallery, Eastleigh, Hampshire - Display
Dec 1994 Wildlife Art Gallery, Lavenham, Suffolk - Display
Nov 1994 King of Hearts, Norwich - Exhibition
Oct 1994 Gt Walsingham Gallery, Norfolk - Exhibition
July 1994 Paul Thompson Wildlife Gallery, Snettisham, Norfolk - Display
July 1994 King of Hearts, Norwich - Exhibition
July 1994 Norwich Union, Norwich - Exhibition
June 1994 Norfolk Institute of Art and Design - Degree Show
May 1993 Emanuel College, Cambridge - Exhibition
July 1992 Maddermarket Theatre, Norwich - Exhibition
Sept 1991 Frederick Gallery, Raveningham, Norfolk - Exhibition