When I retired from full time work as an administrator at North Devon College, in Barnstaple, North Devon, I decided that, after painting for so many years, on a self-taught basis, I should formalise my education and get a degree. My choice was Fine Arts, of course, and after three years study in Barnstaple and Taunton, I graduated in 2011 with a Grayson Perry (upper second).
I have been a member of the Westward Ho! & Bideford Art Society for many years and was Exhibition Organiser from 2010 - 2018. I have also done a little teaching for groups of folks locally and with my husband have lived in the area for many years.
Colour is my passion. In my degree, I focussed on painting and for three wonderful and scary years I was able to experiment and play. My thesis was on colour in the industrial age, which was a fascinating area of research. For me image making is often formed from memory and emotion rather than direct observation and, as with other artists, I can be influenced by issues that have a strong meaning for me. I enjoy the process of allowing and enabling material to flow and develop dynamically. Further stages in the painting may include form produced from images created by the spontaneous action of the media.
In some ways it could be argued that I am portraying what I see around me, in the landscapes, seascapes and sky-scapes, of this beautiful part of this country. Living in Devon, I am lucky that I only have to walk a mile or so to get to water; there are several rivers nearby and the local marshes and estuary often provide the inspiration and motivation for my work. I am drawn to the abstractions in nature and these play a large part in my work, sometimes without my being conscious of their presence until nearing completion of the piece.
In my most recent works, I am enjoying using oils and cold wax medium to produce depth and texture. I have always loved working with oils, the smell, the media and its forgiving nature, however it does take a long time to dry! Using the cold wax medium, does speed up the process and creates gorgeous textures. I do hope you like what you see.
It is important to me that you are happy - in love even - with your purchase(s). These days when physical galleries are not always accessible, it can be a bit of a gamble for the customer to buy anything online. Even more so when it is something so personal as a piece of art - that you may only have seen in its virtual format. I want you, my customer to have confidence in buying my work, either from my website or the online galleries I work with. I take great care to reproduce my work as accurately as possible to the original, within the limitation of photography. My desire is to establish a long-lasting and successful working relationships with all my customers.
Jenny Smy's work is held in private collections in London, Scotland, Derbyshire, Yorkshire, Australia, Germany and USA.
For further information and to contact me, please use the following links.
Email: smycontemporaryart@gmail.com
Website: www.smycontemporaryart.com
Phone: 07789115343
Jenny Smy BA (Hons) Fine Art
Education:
2012 Foundation Diploma in Art Therapy, London
2010 -2011 B A (Hons) Fine Art
Plymouth University, Somerset College of Arts and Technology
2010 Slade School of Fine Art (Summer School)
2008 - 2010 Foundation Degree Fine Art – Achieved with Distinction
Plymouth University, Petroc School of Art
Prior qualifications include:
GCE A level in English and Law
City & Guilds Integrated Business Technology Level 3 Part Award
City & Guilds Direct Training and Support NVQ 3
NEBOSH National General Certificate in Occupational Safety and Health
RSA Advanced Diploma in Administrative Procedures (equivalent to NVQ 3)
BTEC TDLP Assessor award Units:
D32 Assess Candidate Performance
D33 Assess Candidate using Diverse Evidence
City & Guilds 7307 Stage 1 & 2 Further Education Teachers Certificate
Experience:
2016 - 2018 Bratton Fleming Art Group Tutor and Facilitator
2014 - No Brushes Workshop, Pilton Arts Group, Barnstaple
2013 - Painting With Music Workshop, Pilton Arts Group, Barnstaple
2013 - Present: Burton Ambassador, Burton Art Gallery & Museum, Bideford
2012 - 2017 - Volunteer, Arts and Activities, North Devon Hospice, Deer Park, Barnstaple
2009 – 2013 The Art Coop @ Gallery 39 – Artists Co-operative
at 39 Bear Street, Barnstaple.
Pilton Arts Group – Past President and Chair.
2010 - 2017 Westward Ho & Bideford Arts Society – Exhibitions Organiser
Devon Artist Network: Member
www.devonartistnetwork.co.uk
Saatchi Gallery: Member
Pilton Arts Group: Life Member
Westward Ho! & Bideford Art Society: Member
Instagram: @smyjenny
LinkedIn: Jenny Smy
Facebook: Smy Contemporary Art
Exhibitions:
Some Recent & Past:
I currently have work in Hand Made, Gallery in Ilfracombe; Radius 68 in Budleigh Salterton, as well as other local Galleries and of course my own studio in Barnstaple
2020 Society of Women’s Artists Online Exhibition
2020 Westward Ho! & Bideford Arts Society, Online Exhibition,
2020 Artizan Gallery, Fleet Walk, Torquay - including Art-Hub Online
2019 Artizan Gallery, Lucius Street, Torquay
2019 Westward Ho! & Bideford Arts Society, Annual Exhibition, The Burton at Bideford
2018 Art Trek, Portland Gallery, Ilfracombe
2018 A Life More Colourful, Jill Rousseau Gallery, Bideford
2016/17 Westward Ho! & Bideford Art Society ( as above) I have been exhibiting here annually for many years.
2015 Then & Now, Landmark Theatre, Ilfracombe and Queens Theatre, Barnstaple
2014 Double Vision; Petroc, Barnstaple
2014 Portland Art Gallery, Ilfracombe
2013/14/15 Waterside Gallery, Instow, Bideford.
2013 Loughrigg Gallery, South Molton
2012 North Devon Hospice, Deer Park, Barnstaple
2012 Alumni Exhibition, Petroc, Barnstaple
2011 Ad Lucem II; Final Year Degree Show, Somerset College, Taunton
2011 John Blight Gallery, Camelford
2010 Tiverton Art Society
2010 The Hothouse, Somerset College
2010 The Mayor’s Charity Exhibition, The Art Store, Barnstaple
2010 Artist of the Month, The Art Coop @ Gallery 39, Barnstaple
2003 First North Devon Art Show, Museum of North Devon, Barnstaple
2002 Related Visions II, Dovetails Gallery, Ilfracombe
2001 Soft Edges, Dovetails Gallery, Ilfracombe
2000 Second on Left and Straight On, Dovetails Gallery, Ilfracombe
Group Exhibitions:
(See Above also)
2010; The Artist’s Garden, RHS Rosemoor, Torrington
2010; 88th Annual Summer Exhibition, Burton Art Gallery & Museum, Bideford
2010; Rock, Paper Scissors, Petroc School of Art (formerly North Devon College)
Barnstaple
2009 Moor Presents! Christmas Exhibition, Duchy Square Centre, Princetown, Dartmoor
2009 The Artist’s Garden, RHS Rosemoor, Torrington
2009 Westward Ho! & Bideford Art Society 87th Annual Summer Exhibition, Burton Art Gallery and Museum, Bideford
