Our People
Robert Manners
Robert’s practice moves fluidly between disciplines and has consistently explored and exploited common perceptions of where boundaries between painting, printmaking and drawing begin and end. Studying Mural Design at Chelsea School of Art laid the foundations for a cross-disciplinary practice. A twelve-year hiatus running a successful ceramic tile design and manufacturing company was followed by the completion of an MA in Multi-disciplinary Printmaking at the University of West of England.
Painting has always been central to Robert’s practice but this has been significantly influenced by the disciplines and processes of printmaking and collage. Robert’s studio outputs reflect a deep interest in the materiality and physicality of the work itself whilst simultaneously investigating themes of authenticity and modes of understood painting ‘styles’ (the abstract and the representational). Close observation of the materiality of these all these disciplines remains an integral component of his practice. Robert is also actively involved in a number of artist-led organisations and has worked as a curator on a number of arts establishment funded projects in Bristol and in the South West.
Current lines of research at Arts University Plymouth are scrutinising recurring themes in his practice. These include questions of authenticity, the use of the readymade (and its influence in the context of modernist and contemporary painting) and boundaries between abstract and representational modes of painting.
2018 Arts Council Funding, as part of N-E-W artists’ group,
2010-11 Bristol Museum & Art Gallery funding, as part of CONTAINER artists’ initiative, for a 12-month independent curatorial project.
2008 RWA Open Best Regional Artist Award
2004 UWE Rebecca Smith Award (MA Multidisciplinary Print)
Robert’s current lines of research at Arts University Plymouth are scrutinising recurring themes in his practice. The readymade: its influence in the context of modernist and contemporary painting. Authenticity. The boundaries of abstract and representational image making.
EXHIBITIONS
2018 N-E-W...ideas 2018. Methodist Chapel, Ashburton, Devon
2017 Fathoms Fragments and Fieldwork Greenhill Arts, Moretonhampstead, Devon
2017 Under Construction Forever (part III) Theatre Royal, Plymouth, Devon
2016 Equivalents & Prototypes Art Mill Gallery, Plymouth, Devon
2015 SLOW abstraction (Plymouth Weekender Show), Devon
2015 Affordable Art Fair Transistor Gallery, London
2015 Group Print Show Art Mill Gallery, Plymouth, Devon
2014 MULTIPLIED. Limted Edition Print Fair, Christies, London
2014 Group Painting Show Art Mill Gallery, Plymouth, Devon
2014 Continual Tones & Under Construction Forever (part II) Collaborative show with Tim Didymus N-E-W Ashburton, Devon.
2014 ‘Seascape Refits’ Solo show. Art Room, Topsham, Devon
2014 Affordable Art Fair (London). Coombe Gallery, Dartmouth, Devon
2013 MULTIPLIED Limted Edition Print Fair, Christies, London
2013 ‘It’s all White’ Coombe Farm Gallery, Devon
2012 RE OPEN Royal Society of Printmakers, Bankside, London
2012 Diptych Collaborative show between Spike Print Studio & UWE Print Department
2010 Under Construction Forever (part I) Bristol Museum & Art Gallery (Plinth Project) CONTAINER, Bristol
2010 Solo show Bristol-Lisboa Gallery, Lisbon,Portugal
2010 Solo Show Create Centre, Bristol. (awarded from RWA - Best Regional Artist)
2009 IMPACT 9 International Print Fair, Bristol
2009 RWA Open RWA, Bristol Award: Best Regional Artist
2009 Multiples CONTAINER, Bristol
2008 ‘ONE’ CONTAINER, Bristol
CURATORIAL / COLLABORATIVE / RESIDENCY
2018 N-E-W…ideas 2018 Curator for 11 site-specific works for the Old Methodist Chapel in Ashburton – recently purchased and being transformed to Ashburton Arts Centre. See: www.n-e-w.org
2011 Kestle Barton Manaccan, Lizard, Devon
2010-11 The Plinth Project CONTAINER (Artist Led Project / SCCAP CIC) Organiser & Co-curator for a 12 month commissioned and funded project. 6 artists commissioned to produce new site-specific work responding to an empty plinth located in the main entrance hall of Bristol Museum & Art Gallery.
2008-10 CONTAINER Co-founder and curator of Artist’s Led Project in Bristol. Conceiving & curating: ONE : 5 solo shows. See: www.containerarts.org
