ARTIST STATEMENT/BIO
COLETTE LILLEY (b. 1984, United Kingdom) is a drawer. She has a Masters in Art and Design Practice from Loughborough University (2009) where she researched the link between dyslexia and creativity.
Colette draws in a grid format using only bic biros. The act of learning to see inspires Colette’s work, as observational drawing can quiet the mind. Her drawing documents this process using portraits as a tool for her focus. Each square is viewed and drawn in isolation from the others. This as well as the use of limited medium reduces distractions and allows Colette to be in the present moment. The squares are a drawing in themselves representing a time and moment.
Colette won the Comme Ca Art X AWOL Studios Open Call Exhibition 2023 for drawing. Colette's drawings have been exhibited nationwide, in venues including the Ferens Art Gallery Hull, RBSA Gallery Birmingham, and Guilford House.
She has also curated a number of exhibitions, including the co-curation of the Drawing (Paper) Show. Colette is a co-founder of Liverpool Artists’ Network (2015), a platform that provides resources for artists to connect with one another, art organisations, art venues and art groups based in Merseyside. Consisting of network meetings, they have been hosted by the Tate Liverpool, the Walker Art Gallery, Bluecoat, Metal Liverpool and many more. Colette was also shortlisted for the Liverpool Hope & the Leaders Club Awards (2019) for her work in the arts.
Colette has set up @Artist_Parent, an Instagram account sharing the stories and artwork of artists who are parents, grandparents and caregivers. She is hoping to create a support network encouraging the creativity of parents.
C.V.
Education
MA in Art and Design Studio Practice, Loughborough University, 2009.
BA Hons in Visual.Communication in Illustration, Loughborough University, 2006.
Awards
Comme Ca Art X AWOL Studios Open Call Exhibition 2023, Winner.
Liverpool Hope & the Leaders Club Awards 2019, Shortlisted for my work in Liverpool’s art scene.
Selected Exhibitions
2024
Guildford House Open, Surrey, November - January 2025.
Summer Selection’ 24, Ladies Drawing Clüb.
Shuffle, Liverpool, April - May.
2023
RBSA Drawing Prize 2023, RBSA Gallery, Birmingham, September- October.
Drawing (Paper) Show, The Bridewell Studio and Gallery, July - August.
Liverpool Art Fair, The Royal Liver Building, Liverpool, June - August.
Comme Ca Art X AWOL Studios Open Call Exhibition, Comme Ca Art, Manchester, May - June.
Paper Cuts, 50_mv, Crosby, May.
SHE, The Bridewell Studios and Gallery, February.
2021
Threshold Festival X, Liverpool, April.
2020
The Drawing show, The Bridewell Studio and Gallery, February.
The Input Exhibition, Output Gallery, November - January.
2019
The Drawing Show, Arena Gallery, August.
Lancaster Open, Chapel Gallery, Ormskirk, July - September.
2018
Hull Open, Ferens Art gallery, Hull, February.
2017
On-site: The Plasterer, The Dead Pigeon Gallery, The Tapestry, Liverpool, September.
Lancaster Open, Chapel Gallery, Ormskirk, July - September.
Magical Geometry, Chapel Gallery, Ormskirk, January - March.
2016
Interlocked, Road Studio, Liverpool, October.
The Dark Side of LightNight, 104 Duke Street Liverpool, May.
2015
Lightnight, 104 Duke Street Liverpool, May.
Threshold Festival V, Liverpool, March.
2014
The Independent Artist Fair, London, October.
2012
Homeland, Wolstenholme Creative Space, Liverpool, January.
Curated & Co-curated Exhibitions
Drawing (Paper) Show, The Bridewell Studios and Gallery, July - August 2023.
SHE, The Bridewell Studios and Gallery, February 2023.
The Drawing Show, The Bridewell Studios and Gallery, February 2020.
The Drawing Show, Arena Gallery, August 2019.
The Dark Side of LightNight, 104 Duke Street Liverpool, May 2016.
Groups
Liverpool Artists' Network a platform that provides resources for artists to connect with one another, art organisations, art venues and art groups based in Merseyside, 2015.
Press & Publications
'What it is Draw a Face' Podcast Interview, 2024
Agogzine, 2024.
Five2Watch Liverpool, Axis spotlight, July 2014.