We are delighted to introduce our new Artist in Residence.

George Cole is a Contemporary Landscape Artist who has joined King’s as Artist in Residence for 2019/20. He has recently completed his NQT qualification in the Creative Arts Department at Ivybridge Community College in Devon and is also a recent outstanding Secondary Art PGCE graduate from Bath Spa University.

Prior to this, he studied Fine Art at Falmouth and the University of Wales School of Art. His most recent exhibition was a series of landscape paintings called Wild Rivers of Dartmoor, 2016, in Ivybridge. As well as landscape painting, he is currently working on a mixed-media installation piece exploring identity through Ancient South American Mezcala figures. George is one of the founders of an Art Collective called United Through Art who support young creative talent across the UK and currently lead and support workshops as part of contemporary gallery, Hauser & Wirth’s, Education Team and at leading galleries; Tate Modern in London and Holburne Museum in Bath.

King’s is thrilled that such an inspiring young artist has joined the dynamic and vibrant art teaching team and will be working with pupils over the coming academic year.

George Cole, in his own words…

"I am really looking forward to working with pupils from King’s in and beyond the Art Department to help support their creative thinking, problem solving and develop their technical skills, making this accessible for all abilities. To further engage pupils at King’s my aim is to open the doors to the Art Department, making my studio as interactive as possible for pupils to gain an insight into my multi-disciplinary approach from painting, printing and casting, etc. I have assembled a range of artworks, objects, tools, maquettes and relevant reading material to form a visual book lab. Hopefully, this will allow pupils to interact and understand my working process as a practicing Contemporary Artist. I look forward to welcoming you all to the Art Department and visiting first-hand to experience all the talented students and their incredible artworks…

My practice involves capturing first-hand impressions working out in the open landscape, completely immersing myself in the elements. My aim is to experience the forces of nature whilst responding to and recording changes to the landscape over time. I am particularly intrigued by the transformation of water from rainfall to wild rivers and this sense of movement and energy is a real driving force in what I seek to capture.

Based in the dramatic West Country with its prevailing weather front, adds to the excitement of capturing first hand impressions and with the unpredictable weather patterns, these elements find their way into my work. It is an immersive experience working out in the open landscape as you find yourself at the mercy of the elements.

I continue to explore the relationship between nature and culture and how the relationship between the two have changed the landscape over time. In response to climate change, I will be focusing on the river systems that forge and shape the surrounding landscape and recording the changing weather patterns and how this has had an impact on the flora and fauna. Asking questions how do we connect with the land we live in and how should we react to the impact of climate change?

By producing the artworks, I hope to give people a chance to connect and take a more active role in the landscape and be more future-focused with regards to protecting the environment for future generations. As well as cultivating a deeper understanding and make connections with the presence of past human activity that has shaped this ancient landscape.

Wild Rivers: Dartmoor
Painting by the side of the river amidst the pre-historic ruins in my native Dartmoor. The energy of the river and transient colours and textures of the surrounding landscape are constant themes and the foundation to my work.

Wild Rivers: Watercolour Series 2010-15
An exploration of the forces of nature and human settlements that have shaped the unique river landscapes in Dartmoor.

Wild Rivers: Ongoing
I often paint in the river or perched on granite boulders to get as close to the action as possible. I revisit the same locations season-after-season and year-after-year to capture the transient and constantly evolving nature of the landscapes through pigment.

The Ripple: 2014-present
Through the ongoing Ripple project, I explore how ideas evolve over time through the physical movement of this symbolic piece of land art from the source to the mouth of the River Erme. Watch this space for opportunities to help shape the next phase of Ripple’s journey through the landscapes of Dartmoor.

The Mezmo Series
I am fascinated by the power and value placed on objects, and interested in how this evolves over time. I have been casting and re-imagining an 800-year old South American Mezcala figure across a body of work I started in 2010.

Mezmo: Interactive Blue Resin Cast Figures, 2015
Viewers are invited to interact with the 16 originally cast figures held in place by magnets in the piece. Creating their own dialogue and bringing new meaning to ancient times, ideas and relics.

Mezmo Installation: Ritual-Offering 2016
Glazed, cast mezmo figures come together in this installation. Viewers are invited to celebrate lost, ancient cultural traditions and rituals, reimagined in this wild, remote, South Dartmoor context. As I explore themes of collective spirit and the importance of learning from the past to move forwards."

Education

• 2016-17 Bath Spa University, Secondary PGCE in Art & Design 2007-10 Cardiff School of Art and Design, UWIC- BA, Fine Art 2006-7 University College Falmouth - ABS Level 3 Diploma in Foundation Studies (Art and Design)

Exhibitions

• 2018 Hartslane Gallery, Control Exhibition, South London
• 2016 G H Cole: Wild Rivers, Dartmoor. Watermark Gallery, Ivybridge 2015 United Through Art, Columbia Road, London
• 2015 United Through Art, Shrewsbury Coffee House
• 2012 United Through Art, Space54, London
• 2011 United Through Art, Shrewsbury Coffee House
• 2010 UWIC, Howard Gardens, Degree Show, Cardiff
• 2009 Capital Shopping Centre, Cardiff
• 2008 Tactile Bosch, Llandaff, Cardiff
• Workshops
• 2017/18/19 Children's Summer Workshops/
• Summer Party Workshop/ Open Farm Sunday
• @Hauser and Wirth, Somerset
• 2017/18 Art Club Collage and Printing Workshop
• @Hackney Wick, London
• 2017 Shadow Puppets Workshop @Three Ways School, Bath 2016 Children’s Tour and Drawing Activities @Tate Modern, London 2016 Printmaking Workshops @The Holburne Museum, Bath

George Cole - Artist in Residence