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From Plymouth to Public Art: Rhys Coren on Creativity, Community & Career Highlights
Tuesday, 18 February, 2025 — Artist and Arts University Plymouth alum Rhys Coren discusses his creative journey, influences, and advice for emerging artists. Discover more about his work and inspirations.
<p dir="ltr">London-based artist and Arts University Plymouth graduate Rhys Coren has built a career defined by rhythm, colour, and movement. Working across painted marquetry, animation, music, and curatorial projects, his dynamic practice blends traditional craftsmanship with digital precision.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Rhys studied on our <a href="https://www.aup.ac.uk/courses/undergraduate/foundation-diploma-in-art-and-design-post-a-level">Foundation Diploma in Art & Design</a> course, when it was based in the Regent Street building in 2001. From his early days in Plymouth to studying in Bristol and London, and now exhibiting internationally, Coren’s work has been shown at leading galleries in Paris, New York, Hong Kong, Milan, and Berlin.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Currently, his latest solo exhibition, 'Falling Up', is on display at <a href="https://www.foreigndomestic.io/coren_web.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Foreign & Domestic</a> in New York, marking his first solo show in the city since 2019. The exhibition features nine new paintings, created using his intricate laser-cut and spray-painted marquetry technique. Coren’s layered process—moving from freehand drawing to digital manipulation, laser cutting, and precise spray painting—mirrors the rhythm and structure of contemporary music production.<br /></p>
<p dir="ltr">'Falling Up' is a meditation on identity, origins, and creative feedback loops, reflecting his experiences over the past year—teaching animation to children, designing stone furniture with Peter Noyce, and working on large-scale public art commissions. His recent work includes a nine-metre terrazzo public artwork behind Bond Street Crossrail Station in London, with an even more ambitious 60-metre reclaimed stone floor installation set to open in 2026 at Liverpool Street Station.</p>
<p dir="ltr">We spoke to Rhys about his artistic journey, the influences that shape his work, and his advice for emerging creatives.<br /></p>
'Everyone I've Ever Known', 2020, Rhys Coren
<p dir="ltr">I grew up with a young single mum in a working-class part of Plymouth in the 1980s and 1990s. Contemporary art wasn’t accessible—having a Beryl Cook calendar was considered cultural.</p>
<p dir="ltr">I didn’t have connections or financial security, but I was lucky to have a supportive family, great school art teachers, and an incredible tutor, Joan Dawson, at Arts University Plymouth. I worked hard, and when opportunities came my way, I was ready. Looking back, I feel like I’ve overachieved given where I started—everything now is a bonus.</p>
<p dir="ltr">In short, I'm resilient and hardworking and whenever I am thrown some good luck (which seems a lot looking back), I have the work ready to go. I feel like I've massively overachieved for someone from these circumstances, so everything now is a bonus and a total joy. I'm not measuring myself against anyone else. </p>
<p dir="ltr">One takeaway is it's great to see Beryl Cook getting the respect she deserves. I, myself, am the proud owner of one of her drawings. Thanks, Sophie (As in, Sophie Cook, Beryl’s granddaughter!). <br /></p>
<p dir="ltr">I'll be honest, I knew nothing about the Fine Art course at UWE when I applied. I grew up in Plymouth, and when you grow up there, you kind of look at Bristol as the next biggest city in the South West.</p>
<p dir="ltr">By chance, the Fine Art course was going through big changes, with new London-based tutors (Mandy Ure, Brian Griffiths) and studios moving to Spike Island gallery. At first, I hardly went—I was BMXing at the skate park every day. But after being given an ultimatum—commit or leave—I got stuck in and became completely hooked on art.</p>
<p dir="ltr">After graduating, I stayed in Bristol and co-ran an artist-led space with Hannah James. I later co-founded a publication that connected DIY and artist-led scenes across the UK, inspired by Lucy Byatt, then director of Spike Island, who encouraged us to think big and helped us secure Arts Council funding.<br /></p>
<p dir="ltr">After my BA, I felt like I had unfinished business with education. I knew I was behind developmentally, so I spent years focusing on facilitating other artists—curating shows, publishing, and running spaces—before turning my attention back to my own work.</p>
<p dir="ltr">It took a few attempts and some tough interviews, but I eventually got into the RA. Once I was in, I fully committed—I was there six days a week, even during the holidays, absorbing everything I could.</p>
<p dir="ltr">There’s a statue of the first RA president, Sir Joshua Reynolds, in the courtyard. He was from Plymouth, and I gave him a nod every morning.<br /></p>
<p>Me and a good friend from school, Tom Hobson, went to PCAD (Arts University Plymouth’s former name) together. We're still friends to this day and have lived and collaborated together in Bristol and London.</p>
'Ripple', 2023, Rhys Coren
The medium decides for you. I’m primarily a painter and animator, and I think mostly in these two media. Then other opportunities or contexts allow for occasional other types of work, too. But I think it’s important for artists to have different modes and speeds of making, as one can be a respite from the other, without you ever really needing time out of the studio.
Foundation in Art & Design Graduate Rhys Coren
<p dir="ltr">It suits how my brain works—it has a lot in common with animation and music post-production.</p>
<p dir="ltr">The process moves from quick, free drawings on paper to digital editing and layering. Then I cut the image into wood, locking the composition in place before fine-tuning textures and pigments. It’s ordered chaos.<br /></p>
'S.W.E.A.T.', 2020, Rhys Coren
<p dir="ltr"> I have a tendency to piggy-back on other interests as a way of cross-learning in art. I found poetry a better way to understand reduction and economy in image-making. And I found, with the involuntary reaction music has in your body when it’s ‘working’, music is a better way to understand rhythm and tone and structure.</p>
<p dir="ltr">I am impacted by the likes of Mary Heilmann, Mark Leckey, Jonathan Lasker, Stuart Davis, David Robilliard, Len Lye, Elizabeth Murray, Carmen Herrera, Memphis, Norman McLaren, Frank Stella<br /></p>
<p dir="ltr">It lets you engage with works you connect with but didn’t create yourself. You get to have conversations with other artists and their work—both literally and metaphysically.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Most importantly, it builds community, and that social nourishment is invaluable.<br /></p>
<p dir="ltr"> I’m currently working on a new public work – a 60-metre-long stone floor next to Liverpool Street Station in London. I’ve also just written a book that will be launched in a few weeks.</p>
<p dir="ltr">But beyond that, WHO KNOWS!??? That’s what is so exciting about it.<br /></p>
<p dir="ltr">Turn any sense of injustice, unfairness, or snobbishness into fuel for your work. Self-organise shows and events. Be part of a gang.</p>
<p dir="ltr">And just work, work, work, so if any opportunities come your way, you're able to react. Oh, and let yourself make bad stuff.<br /></p>
'Ice Cream, TV (joey, Johnny, Dee Dee), 2019, Rhys Coren
<p dir="ltr">Rhys Coren’s career highlights the importance of perseverance, experimentation, and community. If you're looking for a <strong>dynamic</strong> and <strong>supportive</strong> <strong>environment to explore your creativit</strong>y, our <strong>UAL Foundation Diploma in Art & Design</strong> is the perfect starting point.</p>
<p dir="ltr">This <strong>one-year Level 3 course</strong>, validated by <strong>University of the Arts London</strong>, provides a structured yet flexible approach to creative discovery. Based at our <strong>dedicated Pre-Degree Campus</strong>, you’ll explore fine art, design, media, and interdisciplinary practice in specialist studios.<br /></p><ul><li dir="ltr"><p dir="ltr">Develop a <strong>strong</strong> <strong>portfolio</strong> for degree-level study</p></li><li dir="ltr"><p dir="ltr">Experiment across disciplines with expert guidance</p></li><li dir="ltr"><p dir="ltr">Showcase your work in an <strong>end-of-year summer show</strong></p></li><li dir="ltr"><p dir="ltr">Gain valuable <strong>UCAS</strong> <strong>points</strong> (Pass: 80, Merit: 96, Distinction: 112)</p></li><li dir="ltr"><p dir="ltr"><strong>Guaranteed</strong> <strong>BA</strong> (<strong>Hons</strong>) place at Arts University Plymouth for students who pass and complete a portfolio review</p></li></ul>
The course was really experimental—you try so many different things. I came in with experience in painting and installation but worked on film and sculpture too. We weren’t restricted at all.
– Kez Dearmer, Foundation Diploma in Art & Design student
<p dir="ltr"><strong>👉 </strong><a href="https://www.aup.ac.uk/courses/pre-degree/foundation-diploma-in-art-and-design-post-a-level">Foundation in Art and Design</a><br /></p>
