Nicki Bennett

The origin of my work comes from a love of drawing life around me, capturing fleeting moments of the passer-by going about their daily lives and routines. My work evolves through a series of stages transforming the rough sketches into distinctive collagraph prints with rich velvety tones contrasting with fine drypoint lines. To satisfy my own curiosity I constantly seek for information and inspiration by researching subjects and gathering ephemera. I endeavour to create of something where the viewer becomes involved and curious. The plate from which the images are printed from is re-used and re-worked in a final voyage of experimentation until each image is finally exhausted.

Charlotte Salomon’s ‘Life or Theatre?’ in which the text and pictures are read like a diary and ‘The Diary of Frida Kahlo’ both play an active role in influencing my work particularly the narrative and sequential elements.

For my series of Healthy Eating illustrations, from which the ones on show are part of, I created a storyboard about the journey of one person struggling with the psychological aspects of food and diet. The central character, a girl who opts for an idyllic countryside life, falls into the comfort zone of junk foods, online shopping and the consequential health problem. Through a stomach operation preventing weight gain and with wired teeth, the change for a better lifestyle begins. She grows her own organic produce, exercises and uses eating as an enjoyable social experience.

Prizes and Awards
2006 Tony Wilkinson Award,Thoresby Open
2006 Daler and Rowney Award, Patchings Open
2005 Solo Exhibition Prize, Nottingham Annual Open
2005 St Cuthberts Award, Patchings Open
2004 East Midlands Contemporary Art Award, Thoresby Open
Solo Exhibitions
2006/7 New Collagraphs, Nottingham Castle, South Hall Gallery
2006 The Earth Makes Food, Makes You, Soul, Derby
November 1st - 30 2008 New Work, Derby Cathedral Centre, Iron Gate, Derby
www.nickidennett.co.uk info@nickidennett.co.uk 01332 590163 07944028880