Thursday 30 June 2011

Sue McAuley

Sue McAuley has recently graduated with a BA (Hons) in Fine Art and Professional Practice from Blackpool and the Fylde College. Sue is a figurative artist working in a narrative style, currently exploring issues around the subject of women waiting. Works available in pencil, pastel, acrylics and oils. 




Susan Godsiff Profile


Born in Bristol in 1967, Susan Godsiff has graduated with a BA (Hons) in Fine Art in 2011. Previously she has worked in Financial Services and trained as a garden designer before moving to Lancashire in 2003. Susan’s work is influenced by the natural environment and its effect on the human psyche. Her work is often devoid of recognisable forms and brings into call the viewers interpretation, which relies on their own memory triggers to create a personal reaction to the pieces. 









Corrine Streetly Profile


Born in Preston in 1961, Corrine Streetly graduated from the University of Central Lancashire with a BA (Hons) in Fine Art, 1995.  Later completing a research MA at the same University, she focused her studies on the work of women artists past and present; their work and ‘place’ both historically and to date within the visual arts. In many ways the thematic development of her work has evolved from her interest in this subject. As a figurative painter, her work is rooted in the extended tradition of narrative. Previously a fractional lecturer in drawing and painting for 3 years and 1 year’s teaching Art History for Blackpool and the Fylde, she is currently a practicing artist and director of Blott Artist Studios.








Lindos Mare Hotel, Rhodes, May 2011

Blott Member Corrine Streetly produced some watercolour and pen sketches are on a recent holiday to Rhodes, portraying views from the balcony and beach at Lindos Mare Hotel. Since returning from Rhodes, Lindos has been in touch with Corrine to ask if they can feature her paintings on their facebook page. Here is the link for the facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/lindosmare.







"These are my holiday sketches. I always take my paints and drawing materials on holiday with me, I find painting the surroundings relaxing - a more personal and creative record of our surroundings."

Thursday 23 June 2011

David Butterworth Profile

Born in Blackpool in 1958, David Butterworth studied art at Blackpool and Fylde College. He soon became a well known local commercial artist, painting murals in clubs, pubs, theatres and leisure outlets before starting his successful graphics design business in 1984.  His clients include: Leisure Parcs, First Leisure, Pleasure Beach Blackpool, Trinity Hospice in the Fylde, Guys Thatched Hamlet, Granada, BBC, LCC and many more. David has been the in –house graphics, logo and web site designer for Blott Artist Studios since the group was founded in 1999.

The images that David produces are often based around atheism, but also include landscapes and the human form.





Laura Havenhand

Laura Havenhand was born in 1986 in Blackpool, she attended Preston College where she received an ‘outstanding achievement award in fine art’ before going to Blackpool and the Fylde college and then to Leeds Metropolitan University where she completed a BA (Hons) in Fine Art in 2009. Since this Havenhand has been commissioned by restaurants and business’s around the Leeds area, and had her first solo exhibition at The Bowery Gallery, Leeds, in Jan 2010. She has shown in a number of group shows, and continues to make work. She recently became a member of Blott studios, Blackpool, upon returning to the area and has been working at Blott Artists Studios as curator since Novemeber 2010.


My practice exemplifies minorities who I believe to be systematically mistreated, through society’s systematic subjugation of particular groups. My work re-represents them and highlights the problems in society and the lives of the less fortunate. The portraits are made from a series of overlaid stencils. I use semiotics to provide the clues of the narrative and suggestive of the desired interpretation. I have worked along side the charity PAFRAS in Leeds and the fair-trade chocolate distributors Tradecraft. In 2005 I worked with Tradecraft to produce a sculpture made from chocolate and a series of paintings to widen awareness of third world poverty in one of Tradecrafts poverty awareness campaigns.







Jeannine Holloway Profile


Artist Statement:
Jeannine Holloway was born in 1988 and has lived in Blackpool all of her life. Recently graduated from Blackpool and The Fylde College with a BA (Hons) in Fine Art and Professional Practice. Her work focuses mainly on the figurative and portraiture and is strongly influenced by beauty. Her appreciation for art, seen and created for its aesthetic values, leads her to paint her images with more emphasis on style and composition rather than concept or narrative. Jeannine has worked on a number of community projects in the local area, including the complete restoration of 'They Shoot Horses Don't They' (the world's biggest mirrorball) situated on South Promenade, Blackpool. She is currently a practicing artist, intent on furthering her skills and contacts within the creative industries.

I am very interested in 'the beautiful'. My art is strongly influenced by aesthetics and aesthetic values. I do not want to tell someone what they should be feeling when they look at my art. Just as I do not want to tell someone what they should see or how they should see it. I am interested to know what is 'seen by others' from what I create.
The figures in my paintings here are situated in a 'none-space' which emanates a sense of silence and stillness. The soft colours pulsate into and out of the white backgrounds, while some figures are missing heads and other parts of their body completely. These figurative paintings have underlying concerns regarding the delicate and fragile nature of the human body and mind.






Thursday 16 June 2011

A little bit about Blott


Blott has played an active role in the community in a number of ways, primarily supporting and helping recent graduates and established artists alike to develop their careers through its membership scheme. It allows members a level of spontaneity to expand their ideas without the pressures imposed by a more commercially driven venture.  With close links to Blackpool’s newly developed university, Lancaster University, and the University of Central Lancashire, Blott studios regularly provides placements  and student internships  for BA and MA students in the North West who are involved in the arts, making it possible for students to fulfil their course criteria.

Membership subscriptions and private sponsorship continue to help fund exhibitions, administration and running costs etc.  Despite many necessary changes, Blott’s mission remains the same; to further enrich and encourage cultural growth in Blackpool.