About
Alex is a Greater Manchester born visual/digital artist and filmmaker based in Hebden Bridge in West Yorkshire, UK. His multidisciplinary practice has an experimental approach often combining 2D and digital media, exploring making processes in abstract painting, drawing, mixed media, collage, assemblage, digital arts and animation, photography and video. In his current practice Alex seeks to collaborate with a diverse range of communities and provide a platform for people to share their voice, particularly those who may experience barriers to participating in and engaging with creative opportunities, and to raise awareness of social and political issues affecting the lives of everyday people through a variety of socially engaged projects. In collaboration with project participants he has recently produced several digital, audio and animated pieces exploring the cost of living crisis in the UK, and a short film working with young people, envisaging a future in which we sustain and improve local natural habitats in the face of climate change.
Alex’s practice as a mixed media artist and filmmaker explores social, cultural and political themes through the act of storytelling, often involving a participatory and collaborative element to document both his own and other’s personal histories. Working in prisons, homelessness shelters, care homes, refugee services and various local communities Alex spent three years compiling almost thirty digital stories. He has held several public screenings of these works, including two short videos created for the Stories of Chrisp Street heritage project.
Previously a member of the Islington Mill Arts Academy and Mirabel Studios artist collectives in Salford and Manchester, Alex exhibited art works in several group shows. He has also shown works at Salome Gallery, Lovely Art Gallery and First Floor Space in London. He has been a resident artist at First Floor Space since September 2019 and a member of the artist co-operative at Northlight Studios since June 2021.
As an artist educator Alex has worked for over fifteen years in a variety of capacities for numerous galleries, charities, NHS services, and educational organisations. Alex also works as an independent tutor and mentor providing one-to-one support to both academic students and adult learners.
CV
Education
2012 – 2013
MA Participatory and Community Arts, Goldsmiths College, University of London, UK
2005 – 2008
BA (Hons) Visual Arts, University of Salford, UK
2000 – 2002
Certificate of Higher Education in Computer Arts, University of Abertay Dundee, UK
Learning & Participation
2023 –
Artist Facilitator, Open Space 70, Hebden Bridge Arts, Hebden Bridge, UK
2022 –
Artist, The Museum of TAT, Leeds, UK
2022 –
Artist Facilitator, in-situ, Lancashire, UK
2022 –
Artist, Equal Arts, North England, UK
2022 –
Artist, Peshkar, Greater Manchester, UK
2021 –
Sessional Tutor, Swarthmore Education Centre, Leeds, UK
2020 –
Enrichment Tutor, Archer Academy, London, UK
2019 –
Digital Media Workshop Leader, Holborn Community Association, London, UK
2019
Arts Practitioner, Creative Futures, London, UK
2019 –
Tutor, First Take, Liverpool, UK
2018
Workshop Assistant, Sparks Film and Media Ltd, London, UK
2018
Artist Educator, Croydon Restorative Learning School, Surrey, UK
2018 –
Arts Coach, Surrey Clubs for Young People, Surrey, UK
2017
Artist Educator, Phoenix Place, London, UK
2017
Creative Artist, Artisan Kidz, London, UK
2017
Lead Artist, Community Focus, London, UK
2017
Digital Artist, HEC Global Learning Centre, London, UK
2016
Artist Educator, Gerald Moore Gallery, London, UK
2016
Tutor, The Complete Works, London, UK
2015 –
Visiting Digital Arts Tutor, Sydenham High School, London, UK
2015 –
Arts Practitioner, STRETCH, London, UK
2015
Lead Artist, Leo Ward, The Ladywell Unit, Lewisham Hospital, London, UK
2013 – 2015
Arts Facilitator, South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, UK
2013 – 2014
Gallery Assistant, Cultural Institute, King’s College London, UK
2013
Workshop Facilitator, King’s College London & Wellcome Trust, Barbican Centre, London, UK
2012 – 2013
Project Coordinator/Workshop Facilitator, Headway, London, UK
2012 -2013
Creative Assistant, Community Focus, London, UK
2008 – 2010
Workshop Assistant, Venture Arts, Manchester, UK
2007
Workshop Facilitator, Whitworth Art Gallery, Manchester, UK
Solo Exhibitions
2017
The Heartstone Odyssey, Tower Hamlets City Hall, London, UK
Group Exhibitions
2023
The Museum of TAT, Leeds Industrial Museum, Leeds, UK
2023
Open Space 70, Hebden Bridge Arts, Hebden Bridge Town Hall, Hebden Bridge, UK
2021
December Exhibition, Linden Mill Art Gallery, Hebden Bridge, UK
2021
Showcase 21, Northlight ArtSpace, Hebden Bridge, UK
2021
Hebden Bridge Open Studios Exhibition, Hebden Bridge Town Hall, Hebden Bridge, UK
2019
Layered Interpretations, First Floor Space, London, UK
2017
Stories of Chrisp Street, Brownfield Community Cabin, London, UK
2016
Makeright, HMP Thameside, London, UK
2015
SLaMAdArt: 10 Years In Process, Maudsley Long Gallery, London, UK
Summer Open Exhibition 2015, The Lovely Gallery, London, UK
2014
Hidden Gems, Salome Gallery, SHARP, South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
FLOW (with SLaMAdArt), Tate Modern, London, UK
2011
Selling Studio, Mirabel Studios, Manchester, UK
Open Studio, Mirabel Studios, Manchester, UK
2010
Open Studio, Mirabel Studios, Manchester, UK
2009
Open Studio, Mirabel Studios, Manchester, UK
2008
BA (Hons) Visual Arts Degree Show, University of Salford and CUBE Gallery, Manchester, UK
2006
In the Absence of Truth, There is Only Art, Chapman Gallery, Salford, UK
Residencies
2019 –
First Floor Space, London, UK
2015
La Maison Verte, Roujan, France
2008
Transmission Gallery, Glasgow, UK
2007
Stockport School, Stockport, UK
Publications
2018
A celebration of STRETCH DIGITAL, a landmark three-year project, STRETCH (Contributor & Photography)
2014
ESMI Study, Section of Women’s Mental Health, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King’s College London (Logo Design)
2014
Physical Health and Wellbeing Handbook for Service Users and Carers, South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust/King’s Health Partners (Art Director & Original Artwork)
Memberships
2019 –
First Floor Space, London, UK
2009 – 2012
Mirabel Studios, Manchester, UK
2008 – 2009
Islington Mill Art Academy, Salford, UK