kerry phippen - fine artist

Kerry PhippenAbout me

Kerry was born and grew up in rural Perthshire. After graduating in 2004 with a first class honours in Fine Art Drawing from Swindon college, she went on to receive an MFA from Bath Spa University College in 2005.

Exhibitions

Since completing this period of study she has started exhibiting professionally and has a studio in Gloucestershire where she is now based. During 2006 Kerry took part in 5 group shows including the Jerwood Drawing Prize 2006 (currently on tour until summer 2007) with her ink drawing ‘Ghoul School’. This was closely followed by acceptance of two paintings into the RWA 154th Autumn Exhibition 2006 where she was shortlisted for Venue’s Emerging Artist Award. Three of the enamel paintings, Yellow Road, Evening Catch and August Evening have been accepted for the SSA (Society of Scottish Artists) Annual Exhibition in Edinburgh which opens on Sat 17th March 2007 and runs until Thursday 12th April 2007 . The venue is the Upper Galleries of the National Galleries of Scotland's Royal Scottish Academy Building, The Mound, Edinburgh.

Inspiration

Kerry’s work is predominantly inspired by the emotional and physical landscape of her childhood and will often work solely from her imagination. Above all, drawing lies at the heart of her practice, an activity she has been obsessed with since primary school days. Her most favoured medium is ink as it is both beautiful and unforgiving and always adds an unexpected quality to the work.

Kerry’s recent paintings have been executed using Humbrol enamel paint on photographic plates and reflect on universal themes of the family album.

Kerry has a ready supply of photographs to trigger new ideas and is fascinated with both old and new photographs.

 

“Photography is hugely important to me. I have certain pictures that I can spend hours just studying which is a frustrating exercise. It is only when I begin drawing or painting from the photo that I might realise what has hooked me and it’s usually something very subtle, like the particular blue of the little girl’s shoes, or the awkward body language of the group of children, and this quality only reveals itself to me through the process of making. Each one is different and each discovery different from the last.”