With my MA show, I have developed a narrative to explore layers of perception. Using line to draw on paper, canvas, the bite of the print, and the physicality of wire, I've made art to depict images of myself and others with similar Queer identities, elevated from a stance of erasure.
Often, my practice is predominantly two-dimensional, centred on drawing and mark-making. MA studies have encouraged me to work with new mediums and materials to explore three-dimensional work, including sculpture, casting, and ‘drawing’ with metal to create sculptures.
Dyke Glory Holes
Text to accompany a maquette created for Great Yarmouth. This was an MA brief to create a model of a sculpture in response to Great Yarmouth. i created a series of Peep boards, ideally, I’d like to create an entire Queer Joyland, so as to see myself there in an venue that’s not centered around alcohol - but just Queer Joy.
Exhibited in the window at Primyarc May 2024
Don’t see myself here
Don’t see myself in JoyLand
Don’t see myself reflected in the windows of the family restaurants, steamed up with the breath of heteronormativity.
See my reflection, distorted, wrong, other.
See the looks of the passerby, the hastily grabbed hand of the child who stares.
See the shame
A reflection of how when there is a glimmer of validity, it’s surrounded by false truth.
It must be Ok now.
There was a lesbian on the telly.
One of those nice ones, that looks normal. Could even pass for straight.
Not a fat, trans, butch dyke.
Enter the toilet with trepidation, how one might tentatively step into the ghost train. Will it be as frightening as the last time?
The words are waiting on people’s lips.
Lurking by the hand dryer.
This is the ladies.
Wear a mask
Wear a courageous persona
Wear a secret smile for the other lesbian couple on the pier, the subtle nod of recognition.
Take off the cloak of invisibility
Stick your head through the glory hole, peep out and show your identity.
Turn around. The shame is turned into joy
Turn the pleasure of the butch, the subversion of gender into a separate world.
Turn up for Queer.
We can ride the bikes and the truck never hits us
The armour protects
The superdyke is there for all the emergencies.
We can choose our family
Better
Queer JoyLand
Exquisite Corpse of Identity
Creating a ‘playground sculpture around the themes of letting go, not defining myself by boxes or fitting a round peg into a square hole, but embracing the multi-dimensional aspects of one's being, letting go of those restrictive preconceived and pigeonholing narratives.
Rachel Collier-Wilson (They\Them)
Exquisite Corpse of Identity
Painted and drawn MDF Boxes, 55 x 55 x 180 cm
Exhibited as part of Queerfest Norwich in the exhibition ‘Interrupt’ February 2024
“Playing with the idea of gender. Something that is not taught in the playground. I constructed a life size pile of building blocks which can twist to change the view of my different personas. Each block can be twisted to combine different elements of the characters portrayed.”
Referencing works such as exquisite corpse game from the surrealist movement, combined with imagery addressing identity, gender and a superhero persona ‘Super dyke’ : Invisible Lesbian; In Death, Still Lesbian; All The Fun of The Bear; Super Hero Dyke.
Artists Blocks/My Favourite Colour Is Plaid
December 2023
Norwich University of the Arts
Artists’ blocks, my favourite colour is plaid.
Work in progress: Wooden blocks and A1 digital prints of scanned blocks.
Working with the physical and drawing on a series of 16 blocks, drawing beyond the gaps was an interesting process. Gaps in the rendering of the drawing feel like gaps to fill in my identity. Are the gaps cracks to be navigated? Is the identity enough?
My starting point was thinking about authentication, the use of the term ‘shibboleth’ and interrogating otherness. (Am I) Are we included? Excluded? Which group/s?
How l present myself causes tension with the ways I’ve been taught to appear and behave. I always want to challenge this, to play with gender conformity and identity.
We can cover the cracks to conform, but in death they are still remembered.
Hopefully.
Portrait of Richard
I’m wanting to develop my portraiture so I approached my friend Richard to see if i could draw him - he appeared to be fairly keen on the idea. I’ve been loving drawing on board, and wanted to see if I could scale up the process. I found a large plywood panel in the garage - so…. What resulted, was a portrait where I was happy with the likeness, but also a mindful experience of a formative time for my queer identity. I made the hand drawing to accompany the portrait - in response to a brief about sharing a lived experience of a time in queer history. Both pieces were accepted for an exhibition at the Assembly House Norwich to coincide with Norwich Pride.
Mixed media on Plywood
Portrait of Richard. Richard Sawdon Smith and I have a shared history of living through the HIV/AIDS crisis in London. To be able to draw his portrait shouldn't be a privilege. I would have many friends around today if it wasn't for inactivity from the government. The process of drawing this piece became about memory, loss, and resilience and the impact of HIV/AIDS on the LGBTQIA+ community. As we continue to fight against stigma around HIV status, racism, homophobia, transphobia and other systemic inequalities, we must prioritise those close to us to ensure their rights are being heard and fought for.
Hold tight
Mixed media on Plywood
A hand holding a red ribbon to represent lesbians who held the hands of gay men as they were dying, who marched on the streets, who partied hard in the nightclubs, who gave blood who continue to fight the stigma and hold on tightly to those who remain.
I saw this quote recently - and it rang true “if you claim to be someone's ally, but aren't being hit by stones being thrown at them, you aren't standing close enough." (Source unknown - attributed to several people)
Rest as a radical act - Raveningham Sculpture Trail 2023
Rest as a radical act
Very happy to be exhibiting at Raveningham again - I painted a series of deckchairs.
Rest brings nourishment and fires creativity. This series of works on deckchairs uses imagery of the body in repose; bodies abandoned in place, suspended from action. It connotes the way the mind’s activity is suspended in the act of relaxing.
I hope to have produced a continuing relationship between the various images as they are exposed to the elements. The fabric will change, but the deckchairs will provide a framework for images of rest. As they are ‘abandoned’ in the trees the deckchairs can’t be used; they are motionless frames for images of rest. Being placed in a circle, the works communicate, creating a conversation about the art of rest.
The piece captures the refusal enacted when we relax in a deckchair, resting and resisting the pressure to produce. Choosing instead to be restored and nourished.
Queer East Art Exhibition - as part of Queer Fest Norwich
Queer East An exhibition of work by East Anglian artists
February 9 – 19 February 2023
Main exhibition Open Friday 10th to Sunday 19th from 12am to 6pm (closed Monday & Tuesday)
A curated exhibition of Norfolk based artists who identify as LGBTQIA+
#QueerFestNorwich
Out in the Picture
I’ve always loved self portraits - Using self portraits is not about vanity but to understand, to analyse, to scrutinise, to expose vulnerability to validate. I love how women have used the throughout history to interrupt the male gaze and make bold statements about self image and value. I wanted with this exhibition to interrupt the heteronormative gaze. I think that was achieved quite nicely. 11 artists, 11 very different representations of self, all very beautifully diverse.
Press release
‘Out In The Picture’, curated by Rachel Collier-Wilson, is an exhibition of self-portraits by emerging and internationally established Norfolk based artists who identify as LGBT+.
Rachel explains; “I wanted to provide a space for artists who identify as LGBT+ to acknowledge their place in our rich and diverse history and to celebrate LGBT+ History Month.
“LGBT+ History Month is an annual event to celebrate and educate regarding diversity and inclusion. As LGBT+ people, we are often ‘othered’ or left out of the picture. The Out In the Picture exhibition provides a space where we can put ourselves in the frame. Artists play a vital part in documenting history and, through self-portraits, artists can site themselves wherever they want to be seen.”
The exhibition will show the work of several artists local to Norwich and Norfolk. Their work is as varied and diverse as society but they have all created portraiture and self-portraits as part of their practice.
As a public display of identity, Out In the Picture aims to validate and affirm alternative identities, potentially sparking new ideas in individual practice and supporting emerging artists. The artists are sharing images of themselves which include themes of gender, sexuality, gender dysphoria, mental health, combating stigma, masculine- and feminine-presenting folk and, of course, some fun and playfulness.
Together we make a strong contribution to the varied art scene in Norwich.
Norwich CHRISTMAS croWn trail - with added crow
The Norwich Art Shop Collective is on the Christmas Crown Trail as part of the gold route. To acknowledge this, I’ve created a colouring in sheet - with a crow of course!
There's Something Queer About This Art - Press release
There's Something Queer About this Art exhibition will be at Circle Space, St Augustines Street, from 20th July to 1 August. Part of the Norwich Pride Inspired series of events, the exhibition is curated by Norwich artist, Rachel Collier-Wilson. Rachel says:
"I wanted to create a space for LGBTQI+ identifying artists to exhibit their work and run small workshops. The exhibition includes a variety of media, styles and themes which, combined with the varied backgrounds and experiences of the artists, gives the viewers a look into this rich, diverse, creative community. Whatever the subject, it will be fabulous and we can’t wait to share it with Norwich."
Rachel contacted the Circle Space Gallery to book a week-long exhibition and the gallery decided not only to support the initiative, but to provide an extra week in the price. Vicki Johnson, gallery owner and Meredith Adams, gallery manager said:
“We want to go big on the community feel for this year's Pride as Norwich and the LGBTQI+ community could always use that little bit of extra community love.
The idea behind ‘There's Something Queer About This Art’ is to showcase art by Norfolk queer artists. The subject matter doesn't necessarily represent queerness, it just happens to be that the artists are LGBTQI+. Some art will represent identity, love and desire; prejudice and protest; and some that is about being an artist following a passion. All of which is validation towards being genuine to yourself.
LGBTQI+ artists are often marginalised, discriminated against and overlooked, as are many queer people generally. Rachel’s experience of often being ‘othered’ has frequently meant she’s lost confidence to submit artworks and be included in exhibitions. There’s Something Queer About This Art exhibition aims from the outset to be inclusive and incorporate as many submissions from local queer artists as possible.
Also on display will be the Norwich Pride Quilt. The philosophy of the quilt was to bring together members of the LGBTQI+ community to document and commemorate some of the key events of our history in textiles. It has resulted in a fantastic patchwork of history and stories.
Joe Ballard, chair of Norwich Pride says:
"The exhibition will be amazing and one of the jewels of the Norwich Pride Inspired strand. It's beautiful and inclusive and we're so proud of Rachel for creating this wonderful space as part of the Norwich Pride 2021 celebrations."
COAST and COUNTRY
PRESS RELEASE
After a trying year with non-essential shops not being able to open, we are pleased to announce that from 19 May the gallery No.36 theartworkshop, Gorleston-on-Sea will reopen its doors with three Norfolk artists collaborate to celebrate coming out of lockdown and into ‘Coast and Country’
The exhibition to mark the re-opening of No36 The Art Workshop, three artists Safi Butler, Rachel Collier-Wilson and Louise Dougherty, provide their own interpretation of coast and country, depicting wildlife and landscape, with a hint of mythology.
No.36 theartworkshop
36 Bells Road NR31 6AN Gorleston-on-Sea
Opening Date 19 May
Closing Date 26 June
Safi Butler - artist
Safi Butler gained a BA (Hons) Fine Art in 2002 from the University of Lincolnshire & Humberside, specialising in sculpture. After that she has taken various printmaking evening classes, but is largely self-taught in lino printing. Safi started making prints more seriously in 2012 and is developing and growing her skills all the time. Now working part time for the local University and the rest of the time being a self-employed artist.
Using clean, simple lines to create bright and bold prints. Influenced by nature, much of Safi’s work includes animals, plants and wildlife. Having lived in Norfolk since 2009, she draws inspiration from the countryside and coastlines of the county as well as creatures closer to home.
IG - @Safi_Butler_Art
Rachel Collier-Wilson Artist
Rachel Collier-Wilson has been a practicing artist since gaining a BA (Hons) Fine Art in 1990 from Central St Martins School of Art. Making drawings that represent a chance glimpse of an animal in the wild and often adding a suggested narrative. This creates a balance of work which is illustrative in nature, with a hint of folklore and work based on the figure informed by life experiences. Since moving to Norwich in December 2018, Rachel has been enjoying the inspiration of the beautiful coast and wildlife, and the occasional glimpse of local mythological creatures. Rachel explores her line using with pencil, ink and lino prints.
IG - @Rachelmcw
Louise Dougherty - Artist
Louise Dougherty is an emerging artist who lives and works in Norfolk. Louise Dougherty gained her BA Fine Art Painting degree in 2001 at Winchester school of art. After completing her PGCE at Cambridge University Louise taught Art for 17 years until 2019 when she became a full time artist. Current practise explores the contrasts between macro and micro worlds and recording the conflicting differences between being absorbed with the delicacy and power of a found form contrasted or linked to the rhythms of the skies and landscape. As a Norfolk born Artist, she is inherently inspired by landscape and infuses childhood memories into her work, a sense of a forgotten place or the found object that transports the viewer into remembrance. Thematically her work endeavours to respond to creating connections, colour, time and movement.
IG - @createdbylouise
Sharon Thomson artist & owner
Sharon Thomson, artist and owner of theartworkshop says “We are very excited to reopen in line with GYBC and Covid guidelines on Wednesday 19th May, and are very much looking forward to sharing some wonderful Art with you all again.”
IG - @theartworkshop36
Queer women and self portraits
I was brave enough to run a workshop session as part of LGBT+ History Month - and I’m so glad I did it. Some lovely participants and insights into putting ourselves into the picture - some great reflections (no pun intended) on what it’s been like during lock down, what it’s like studying ones face so intently - and some lovely drawings created.
I started the session with a bit of an introduction:
Self Portraits are not just about recording what’s in front of you - even if you produce something you think is ‘rubbish’ - it’s not it has great value as a mindful exercise. In history women have persevered to challenge the ‘male gaze’ Which is all about power and objectified women - we are not decorative! In the history of art women didn’t have the same opportunity of study - not allowed in life classes. SO self portrait was a way to study the human form - model is always there - not necessarily always well behaved.
Women have taken self portraits - and used to create very powerful statements - rarely just about study.
I put together a small collection of examples and key women to start a conversation and contextualise the self portraits importance for queer women - I tried to be as inclusive as I could - and will possibly add to this board in the future.
Pinterest - https://www.pinterest.co.uk/CreativeWithLine/queer-artists/
As part of my preparation I collected self portraits I’d made in the past - they make an interesting (to me at least) retrospective of my creativity - the earliest one being from the late 80s. There’s the portrait I made during the session and a few tips. The portrait I made using my image on the screen and a little awkward to draw on the easel so that everyone could see my progress - so considering those factors - I was quite pleased with it!
Locked down and locked into art
During lockdown 1.0, I continued my creativity but some of my plans changed considerably and, like many Artists I was reliant on social media for networking. I adapted to showcasing my creativity online and at virtual markets (with mixed success). I was fortunate in being able to continue with by drawing and printing and managed to get a potting shed installed as my studio, which was always the plan, but was potentially jeopardised by the restrictions in place.
I’ve been looking back at some of my drawings and prints and unpicking some of my creative thinking.
I started 2020 with a view to ‘doing more’ with my backgrounds. I’ve used old sheets and curtains in my sewn work before and enjoyed re-purposing domestic materials often associated with women and bringing them into the art scene. I was looking at doing the same with interior design and using wallpaper and tile patterns (love William Morris designs), but drawing them directly with common images I draw such as hares – and life drawing, particularly the female form. I strive to merge my illustrative work to some extent with my fine art practice and I’m happy I am doing this to some extent.
I wanted this to be a commentary on the statement ‘a woman’s place is in the home’ and challenging that from a feminist perspective. Taking the interior, we were all becoming so familiar with during lockdown, and emerging into the wider art world with images which are accessible through recognition, but for me have the enhanced meaning of bringing women’s work into the gaze of the art world.
It’s a theme I want to continue – and I have been printing directly onto wallpaper. I want to develop some of the linocuts made using life drawings as a reference, and print directly onto yellow wallpaper, framing them up for an exhibition really appeals.
What will Lockdown 2.0 bring….
Drawn to Print - Joint Exhibition
Drawn to Print
Rachel Collier-Wilson and Safi Butler
27 August - 5 September
Opening Thursday 27 August 12-8 pm
Open Tuesday - Friday 12 - 6
Saturday 10 - 6
Sunday 12-4
For the first time, Rachel Collier-Wilson and Safi Butler are combining their work in a joint exhibition. These two Norwich-based artists both work with bold and confident lines to create their pieces, resulting in a colourful and dynamic show. This exhibition showcases both drawings and prints, and includes life drawing, flora and fauna. Not to be missed – an exploration into the portfolios of two up-and-coming artists on the Norwich scene.
Rachel Collier-Wilson has been a practicing artist since gaining a BA Fine Art in 1990 from Central Saint Martins School of Art. Rachel creates an emotional response to her surroundings, particularly in nature, highlighting the richness of our natural environment and adding a suggestive narrative. Having always drawn, Rachel is an avid life drawer, sometimes brings in images of the female form into her work. Rachel also continues with her printmaking practice, exploring different ways to portray her sketchy line producing linocuts.
Safi Butler gained a BA (Hons) Fine Art in 2002 from the University of Lincolnshire & Humberside. She uses clean, simple lines to create bright and bold prints. Influenced by nature, much of Safi’s work includes animals, plants and wildlife. Having lived in Norfolk since 2009, Safi draws inspiration from the countryside and coastlines of the county as well as creatures closer to home.
Play your cards right
In response to the NightFair Market call out for an Alice in Wonderland themed auction, I wanted to do something with the animals - I’m rather fond of drawing them, as you may know! I started with a couple of sketches of the white rabbit - who has turned to steampunk, and attempted to get the cat to pose smiling as my muse for the Cheshire cat - mixed success with that one! With a love of lino print and mini prints which look like book illustrations, i thought playing card sized images would work well. It would be nice to use them as art trading cards at some point.
So - What to do for each suit?
The cat? Obviously she is ace
The rabbit - traditionally the heart
The dodo - A spade seems to fit with the dead as a dodo…digging a grave and all - bit dark, sorry
And the flamingo - a club reference - club tropicana type reference - or croquet type club? Whatever takes your fancy.
I’ve cut the lino into vaguely card shaped pieces, I might even trim to playing card size. I printed the red and black all at the same time - not sure if that’s good printmaking practice , but it worked for me. I’ll print some just black as well as that’s my go to colour, but I do love the traditional colours. I’m so literal when it comes to colour, but I’m OK with that.
Behind the net curtains
Like many, I’ve been shocked at the increase in domestic abuse during lockdown. Home is not always a safe space. Whilst walking round the deserted Norwich streets with my dogs - on my allotted outdoor exercise - I spotted the most gorgeous lace curtains - slightly damaged, but still lovely. This got me thinking about a little series of linocuts - incorporating the lace design. I wanted to use my life drawings of women in strong poses to show support for those in damaging relationships - some we may never know of.
This work is still in progress. I may make a concertina type book using the blocks. A book appeals as it’s a private experience - looking through the images - seeing intimate portraits. It’s certainly something I will keep thinking about. and developing the images.
£5 from the sale of each individual print goes towards a domestic abuse charity. So far (May 2020) I’ve sent £35, which will provide a mobile phone and a starter toiletry pack for a person fleeing domestic abuse.
Somebody for Everybody - life Drawing Exhibition and sale
Saturday February 8 2020 - click on link above for details
Everyone is Somebody
As artists, we draw from life as it offers an opportunity to look closely at bodies as part of the creative process, informing our observation and approach to other areas of our creativity. Drawing the natural human form in all its variety can help people appreciate their own wonderful uniqueness and accept themselves the way they are. At times in the work the figure and its expression is central. Rebecca often returns to the same image, she repeatedly photocopies, erases and traces. Rachel celebrates the form and flow of line in her drawings. Rebecca and Rachel have made images of their own bodies as moments of experience, this transcendent is about transformation, finding the evolving self in the exploration of the physical world by interacting with it in a form of visual dialogue which however involves phenomenological experience.
We have life drawings to show and sell. We thought we would offer a selection of these drawings to our LGBT+ community and allies at affordable prices with 50% of any proceeds going towards charity.
The Night Fair Before Christmas
I was asked to participate in a craft fair called “The Night Fair Before Christmas” Of course I said yes! I’m so glad I did. A very well organised event, with the bonus of Wild Touch wildlife centre in attendance - with rescue animals included! I had to de-cute my stock before hand - although I don’t tend to draw ‘cute’ I did think the squirrel on a teapot and the flamingo mug would be a bit much for the clientele! However, I sold so many crow mugs - the flamingos did make an appearance towards the end.
Sketchtember - all over again!
2019 had an exotic feel with toucans and a giraffe featuring! I think my favourite was the wombat, such a cheeky little chap. It doesn’t have to be Sketchtember to request a drawing - I’m very suggestible all year round!
A brief trip to Tudor times
This weekend I had a stall at a couple of markets - but the one on Sunday has to be one of the most fun and bizarre! Kett’s fun day in Wymondham. I was invited along as I’m no stranger to drawing birds of pray, crows and rats! Very fitting for Tudor times. My stall was surrounded by people in costume, fire eaters, horses trotting around, the occasional bit of cannon fire, and a speech (on horseback) from Kett himself, encouraging the local peasants to mark onto Norwich to revolt. Oh, and I drew a goat. Great fun!
