Bill Chambers

e: bill@billchambers.org
w: www.billchambers.org

Specialist Subject Areas

Specialist in Printmaking, I am interested in new technologies and how these can be integrated into existing printmaking processes. I am skilled in the use of computers (Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop and In-Design) to aid in the production of my own work and am fascinated by aspects of architecture and the urban environment. My work reflects many influences, not least of which is my association with India, Rajasthan and my continuing engagement with the world of textile design and printing. The prints that I make and my job as a teacher of printmaking skirt the realms of craft, technology and fine art in equal measure.

Qualifications

2002 PGCE Art and Design (secondary level), Cardiff Metropolitan University (UWIC)

1993 M.A. in Fine Art Printmaking, Chelsea School of Art, London

1992 B.A. Hons. Degree in Fine Art (Upper Second Class Hons), Cardiff Metropolitan University (UWIC)

Biography

I was brought up in Warwick and attended secondary school in Leamington Spa. My mother’s home town is Monmouth so I was born in Newport 31.12.1968. I moved to Cardiff in 1989 to attend the BA fine art course at Cardiff Metropolitan University (UWIC) where I met my future wife Judy. We now have two children, Alfie and Molly and live in Penarth.

I am a long standing member of Old Library Artists Ltd. and have a studio at Oriel Canfas in Canton. Since leaving college I have been self employed as an artist and teacher, offering workshops and master classes to a variety of organisations and individuals, notably for an illustration project in 2001 organised by Gwent Theatre and resulting in a book of poems and lino-cut illustrations by children across Gwent. I have also worked as a part time tutor for Coleg Gwent and at Cardiff Prison.

I continue to offer classes from Oriel Canfas and work as an artist / printmaker from my studio there.

Principal Publications and/or Exhibitions

2011 Wrexham Print International, Memorial Gallery, Yale College

2010-11 Wales Rajasthan Exchange Exhibition, Jawahar Kala Kendra, Jaipur / Howard Gardens, Cardiff

2010 Deg/Ten Swansea Print Workshop Printmakers, Oriel Canfas, Cardiff

2010 Intaglio, St Davids Hall, Cardiff

2008 Wrexham Print International, Memorial Gallery, Yale College

2008 The Art of Bollywood, Staffordshire Town Hall Gallery

2007 Contemporary Welsh Printmakers, Swansea Grand Theatre

2007 Solo Exhibition, Washington Gallery, Penarth

2007 Showcase Artist, NB Gallery, Trowbridge

2000 Experiments in Print, Group exhibition of printmaking techniques conceived and curated by myself, Oriel Canfas, Cardiff.

Awards

2011 Arts Council of Wales Creative Wales Award. I will explore new media in printmaking by working in collaboration with staff of the Contemporary Textiles Course at UWIC to create new works by experimenting with digital stitch, laser cutting and digital print. This project is based on the architecture and urban environment of Newport and will culminate in a catalogue and exhibition at the Riverfront Arts Centre in Newport.

Enterprise Projects and/or Industrial links

Since being employed by Swansea Print Workshop in 2007-2008 to write detailed notes on all the printmaking processes practiced at the workshop and a manual for practical management, I have formed a close association with the organisation. I now serve as a director of S.P.W. and am involved in steering it towards expansion and development. I hold regular master classes in various forms of printmaking, most recently a course on digital media and printmaking. This year I have been chosen as one of the artists representing SPW in Import / Export an exchange with Edinburgh Print Workshop culminating in a small edition of prints, a catalogue and exhibitions in both cities.