ABOUT

The perturbing, complex, breathtaking, curious, wondrous and absurd world around us, as well as the variety of living forms on it, is the substance that feeds my imagination. I am constantly commenting and trying to solve relevant issues within my works, either in day to day life or more serious global problems such as religious, political or environmental. I believe that humour is one human reaction that is capable of connecting everyone. It echoes a natural human response to issues of difficulty, i.e. – “you have to laugh…”, and through the serious and highly crafted nature of my constructions, it often resonates with elements which are very dark and present within our lives.

I utilise whatever material best suits the concept. As a result, my works can be created from anything.

I think that art now has the ability to show and tell, in a contemporary way, what it means to be alive today. It can sensitise us to something in the world, clarify our perceptions and make us aware of decisions we have made.

ARTISTIC PRACTICE

Selected Exhibitions

Feb 2016

Invited artist in the exhibition Drawing on Drawing, Edinburgh College of Art.

Mar 2013

Solo exhibition 88 These may be seen in the entrance – The Peter Potter Gallery, Haddington.

Oct 2011

Selected to represent the U.K. at the 15th European / Mediterranean Biennale of Young  Artists, held in Thessaloniki, Greece.

Jan 2011

Invited to be a part of a group show Material Rites at The Institute of British Sculptors, London.

Feb 2009

Solo exhibition, FLEE with Finesse, Edinburgh, funded by Edinburgh Visual Arts & Crafts Artists Award.

Aug 2006

Created a commissioned piece of work for a group exhibition in the Dick Institute Eye poppers, Kilmarnock. Exhibition including such artists as Jake and Dinos Chapman, Jim  Lambie, Alan Davie and Damien Hirst.

Sept 2005

Selected to be part of BRAVE ART 05, exhibition in London.

Selected Awards

Mar 2011

I was selected as one of the UK Young Artists.

Nov 2010

Funded by The Hope Scott Trust to create a piece for the ‘Material Rites’ exhibition, London.

May 2009

Awarded the Society of Scottish Artists Prize.

Mar 2008

Awarded funding from Edinburgh Visual Arts & Crafts Artists Award Scheme 2007/08.

Feb 2006

Awarded a Grant from the Hope Scott Trust that covers all expenses for publishing my artist’s book Don’t Mind the Mule.

Jun 2005

Awarded the John Kinross Scholarship from the Royal Scottish Academy to study in Florence for three months.

Jun 2005

Received the Andrew Grant Bequest Travel Scholarship.

Feb 2004

Royal Scottish Academy Exhibition: Received the RSA Stuart Award.

May 2002

Winner of the Andrew Grant Bequest Award for a collaborative installation at Edinburgh College of Art.

Copyright © 2017 Gemma Coyle | Website by Julia Douglas
Copyright © 2017 Gemma Coyle | Website by Julia Douglas