About Viv Martin
Artist’s Statement
Biography
Qualifications
Exhibitions
Artist’s Statement
I work from experience, drawing from what I see, sense and feel in my surroundings, particularly in places that have been special to people over thousands of years and are rich with mysteries. My work might include references to landscape, structures and objects, other people and myself, stories and words associated with a place. When I first visited the ancient sites of Greece and Egypt, I found not only history but legends, spirituality and energy that evoked an emotional response. Ancient places and objects connect us with our past but are active in our contemporary world,
Most of my recent work has been multimedia, including monotype and other printmaking techniques, (etching, screenprint, woodcut and other relief methods). I like to leave evidence of changes and additions in my work, showing overlaps, relationships, references and reflections, traces of the development of the work. This rich approach demonstrates my intent in the making and incorporates respect for the materials and process in an evidence trail that confirms the uniqueness and authenticity of each work.
Biography
Viv drawing in Provence (pictured right)
I was born in Brighton and studied at Bath Academy of Art, Corsham, between 1966 and 1971 and Goldsmiths College, London in 1972. I taught art in schools but soon focused on adult learning and development, working in public services and universities alongside maintaining my practice as an artist. Since 1981 Paul Martin and I have regularly shown our work together as ‘Martin Studios’ in our own studio/galleries alongside other exhibitions. I am now a full-time artist, living and working on the south coast.
2010 MA in Fine Art (University of Chichester)
1998 PhD (University of Surrey)
1992 MBA (Open University)
1984 MSc (Educational Studies), University of Surrey, Guildford (part-time) in Adult and Continuing Education
1982 BA(Hons) Open University (part-time)
1972 Art Teachers Certificate (Distinction), Goldsmiths College, University of London.
1971 Diploma in Art and Design (Sculpture, Painting, Printmaking, History of Art), Bath Academy of Art, Corsham, Wilts
1970 Travel Award from Brighton Education Authority (independent travel to Paris)
1971 Travel Award from Goldsmiths College (group travel to Greece)
1972 National Art Teacher’s Travel Award (independent travel to Egypt)
2007 – 11 Member of Brighton Independent Printmakers
2010 – 12 Member of Inkspot Printmaking Workshop, Brighton
2011 Participant in Ron Pokrasso’s Monotype Printmaking workshop with Ochre Printmaking, Guildford
2014 Participant in Ron Pokrasso’s Monotype Printmaking in Santa Reparata International School of Art, Florence
2016 Participant in Monotype Printmaking in Santa Reparata International School of Art, Florence
2018 Participant in Monotype Printmaking in Santa Reparata International School of Art, Florence
2019 Invited Member of Monotype Masterclass in Santa Reparata International School of Art, Florence
2022 Invited Member of Monotype Masterclass in Santa Reparata International School of Art, Florence
2023 Martin Studios exhibition with Worthing Artists Open Houses
2022 Martin Studios exhibition with Worthing Artists Open Houses
2022 SRISA, Via Santa Reparata, Florence six printmakers exhibition
2019 Martin Studios Art Gallery Summer Exhibition
2019 SRISA, Via Santa Reparata, Florence, eight printmakers exhibition
2018 Fish Factory as part of Worthing Artists Open Houses
2016 Martin Studios Art Gallery Christmas Exhibition
2016 Fish Factory, Worthing, BN14 Studios Exhibition
2015 Brighton Art Fair, Corn Exchange, Brighton
2015 Contributor to ‘The Matchbox Museum’ at Bath Spa University.
2014 Fish Factory, Worthing, Collaborative Fish Factory Floor Project Exhibition.
2014 Opened a studio/gallery, Martin Studios in Worthing, with regular exhibitions.
2013 David Lloyd Leisure Centre, exhibition with Martin Studios
2012 – 14 Exhibited with Art on the Pier, Creative Waves, Worthing.
2010 – 12 Worthing Artists Pop-up shop
2010/11 Affordable Art Fair, Battersea, London (with Brighton Independent Printmaking)
2010 Phoenix Art Studios, Brighton, collaboration with Stefan Hoffman, artist in residence
2010 Palace Art Fair, Fulham, London (with Ink Spot Press, Brighton.
2010 Brighton Art Fair with Ink Spot Press, Brighton
2010 MA Exhibition, artOne, Chichester University
2010 ‘Parameters’, Otter Gallery, Chichester (group exhibition)
2009 – 17 Fish Factory, Worthing, annual Martin Studios Exhibitions.
2009 Brighton Independent Printmaking, Brighton Festival Exhibition, May
2009 Fishing Museum Gallery, Brighton (group exhibition with Brighton Independent Printmaking)
2008 Fishing Museum Gallery, Brighton (group exhibition with Brighton Independent Printmaking)
2008 Affordable Art Fair, Battersea, London (group exhibition with Brighton Independent Printmaking)
2006 Spring Fair, National Exhibition Centre, Birmingham
2006 St Mary de Haura, Shoreham, Adur Festival Exhibition
2006 Islington Contemporary Art and Design Fair, Candid Arts Galleries, London.
2005 Brighton Art Fair (with Archipelago Gallery)
1999 ‘Fiveways Artists Group Retrospective’, University of Brighton Gallery
1999/2001 Sussex Artists, St Leonards, Mayfield, The Old Palace
1999 Indian Kings Arts Centre, Camelford, Cornwall (mixed exhibition)
1990 ‘Art at Work’ in the Royal Bank of Scotland and Liberty’s Brighton
1988/9 ‘Fiveways Open Houses’, Brighton Festival (joint winner ZAP Club award for Visual Arts)
1986 Harvey Road Gallery, Guildford (joint exhibition with Paul Martin)
1985 Mixed Exhibition, Ayling Porteus Gallery, Chester
1984 Brighton and Hove Public Library and Art Gallery (joint exhibition with Paul Martin)
1984 Selected and published in annual Laing Calendar
1983 Laing Calendar Competition Exhibition, Mall Galleries, London.
1983 Royal Society of British Artists, Mall Galleries, London.
1982/3 Martin Studios Art Gallery, Bristol Road, Brighton.