Bio
Colette Lilley is an award winning visual artist based in Liverpool. She explores the process of observational drawing in her work. Colette gained a Masters in Art and Design Practice at Loughborough University where she researched the link between Dyslexia and Creativity. A topic still prevalent within her practice as she explores the benefits of drawing.
Colette has exhibited internationally and recently won the Comme Ca Art X AWOL Studios Open Call Exhibition 2023. Colette is passionate about Drawing and the promotion of Drawing. She has curated a number of exhibitions including The Drawing Shows, at Arena Gallery (2019) and at The Bridewell Studio and Gallery (2020). Colette recently co-curated the Drawing (Paper) Show [www.drawingpapershow.com] a drawing exhibition and publication with an open call via Instagram @drawingpapershow, which secured funding by the Ulrike Michal Foundation for the Arts.
Colette also co-founded Liverpool Artists’ Network (2015), a platform whose aim is to connect artists, art organisations, venues, groups and collectives of Liverpool. Liverpool Artists’ Network (LAN) consists of an arts directory, quarterly meetings, alternating between Slide Slams, a timed powerpoint presentation for artists to show their work, and networking events, such a artists “speed dating”. Colette run’s LAN’s Instagram accounts @livartnet, sharing opportunities, open calls, job and studio vacancies in Liverpool, and @liv_artinerary, sharing exhibitions, events and workshops in Liverpool. For her work in the arts Colette was also shortlisted for the Liverpool Hope & the Leaders Club Awards (2019).
Artist Statement
I draw to help with my traits of dyslexia. People with dyslexia think visually with mental pictures of concepts or ideas, rather than verbal thoughts. This makes people with dyslexia more creative, a topic I researched on my MA, but for me the over-thinking was exhausting. Drawing has helped me to learn to focus and gain awareness over my thoughts, through the motion of drawing and by learning to see.
I draw using limited mediums. Currently I draw using 1 pen, (a bic biro). Eliminating choice helps me stay focused. I draw one square at a time, masking off all other squares on my drawing and in the reference image. This way I can only see my drawing and what I am drawing. It reduces distraction and assumptions, again helping me to focus.
I am drawn to drawing the human form, especially portraits. They help me to get out of my own head, see reality and form connections which are only possible from a place in the present. I hope my work, with the squares, limited medium and portrait subject, encourages others to see, look and be present.
Now I am a mother working like this, little and often, which means I can still continue my drawing practice by fitting it around nap times or when I have the chance. My drawing practice has now become an important ritual.
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.
Solo Exhibitions
Drawings by Colette Lilley, Cass Art Liverpool, December 2019.
Draw Draw Draw, Art in Windows, 5 Bold Street, September 2018.
Learn to see/learn to draw, Art in Windows, 5 Bold Street, December 2017.
Learning to see, through the act of drawing, The O Gallery, September - October 2017.
Group Exhibitions
Summer Selection’ 24, Ladies Drawing Clüb, 2024.
Shuffle, Liverpool, April - May.
RBSA Drawing Prize 2023, RBSA Gallery, Birmingham, September- October.
Drawing (Paper) Show, The Bridewell Studio and Gallery, July - August 2023.
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 2023.
Drawing is Free: 10 Year Anniversary Exhibition, Paris College of Art, May - June.
Paper Cuts, 50_mv, Crosby, May 2023.
SHE, The Bridewell Studios and Gallery, February 2023.
Threshold Festival X, Liverpool, April 2021.
The Drawing show, The Bridewell Studio and Gallery, February 2020.
The Input Exhibition, Output Gallery, November - January 2020.
Drawings by Colette Lilley, Cass Art Liverpool, December 2019.
The Drawing Show, Arena Gallery, August 2019.
Lancaster Open, Chapel Gallery, Ormskirk, July - September 2019.
Hull Open, Ferens Art gallery, Hull, February 2018.
On-site: The Plasterer, The Dead Pigeon Gallery, The Tapestry, Liverpool, September 2017.
Lancaster Open, Chapel Gallery, Ormskirk, July - September 2017.
Magical Geometry, Chapel Gallery, Ormskirk, January - March 2017.
Interlocked, Road Studio, Liverpool, October 2016.
The Dark Side of LightNight, 104 Duke Street Liverpool, May 2016.
Just Because, O Gallery, London, November 2015.
Flux, Exchange Studio Place, Sheffield, June - July 2015.
Soup Collective, Tate, Liverpool, May 2015.
Lightnight, 104 Duke Street Liverpool, May 2015.
Threshold Festival V, Liverpool, March 2015.
The Independent Artist Fair, London, October 2014.
Soup Collective, Tate, Liverpool, August 2014.
Liverpool Art Fair, The Gallery, Liverpool, May 2014.
104 Duke Street Collective, 104 Duke Street, Liverpool, May 2014.
Homeland, Wolstenholme Creative Space, Liverpool, January 2012.
Contemporary Drawing Exhibition, The Bohemia Space, Liverpool, May 2011.
Liverpool Light Night, Redwire Studios, Liverpool, May 2011.
Liverpool Art Now, The Bohemia Space, Liverpool, March 2011.
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.
Projects
Hidden Gems, Newspaper, Independent Biennial, 2016. (Read Here)
23 artists exhibited next to Van Gogh for a minute, The New Art Gallery, Walsall, 5th December 2009.
From Morning till Night, Katherina Sede,Tate Modern Live, 3rd September 2011.
Groups
Liverpool Artists Network, a platform to connect the artists, art organisations, art venues, groups and collectives of Liverpool, co-founded 2015.
Talks
Dys Fest, London, 6th November 2009.
Press & Publications
Agogzine, 2024.
Five2Watch Liverpool, Axis spotlight, July 2014.
Residency
Stwidio Maelor, Corris, 22nd November to December 2015.
Mini Residency, Arena Gallery and Studio, 27th April to 10th May 2015.