ARTIST BIOGRAPHY
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COLETTE LILLEY (b. 1984, United Kingdom) is a drawing artist who works predominantly on paper in limited mediums. She has a Masters in Art and Design Practice from Loughborough University (2009) where she researched the link between dyslexia and creativity.
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The act of learning to see inspires Colette’s work, as observational drawing can quiet and focus the mind. Being neurodiverse, Colette often feels overwhelmed by her chaotic thoughts and through her drawings has created systems to give her thoughts a linear order. Drawing in a grid format, drawing each square in isolation, as well as the use of a limited medium, reduces distractions, allowing Colette to be in the present moment and her thoughts to progress. Each square of the drawing which is part of the whole also represents a moment in time and is a drawing in its own right. This has enabled Colette to continue her drawing practice since becoming a mother. Being able to continue her drawing practice is important to Colette, which is shown in how she explores ways of developing a daily drawing practice.
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Colette won the Comme Ca Art X AWOL Studios Open Call Exhibition 2023. Colette's has exhibited nationwide, in venues including the Ferens Art Gallery, Hull, RBSA Gallery, Birmingham, and Guilford House Gallery, West Surrey.
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C.V.
Education
MA in Art and Design Studio Practice, Loughborough University, 2009.
BA Hons in Visual.Communication in Illustration, Loughborough University, 2006.
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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.
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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.
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Groups & Projects
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.
@Artist_Parent is an Instagram account dedicated to sharing the stories & artwork of Artist Parents, Grandparents & Caregivers.
Press & Publications
'What it is Draw a Face' Podcast Interview, 2024
Agogzine, 2024.
Five2Watch Liverpool, Axis spotlight, July 2014.