Fiona Campbell explores connections between line, growth and energy, interconnections from micro to macro, nature’s cyclical persistence and transformation. Treating line as object, her work blurs boundaries between sculpture, drawing and installation. In addition to her own practice, Fiona works within the community on collaborative art projects, residencies, teaching and running workshops.

“I am interested in the essence of life, the cyclical persistence and interconnectedness of the natural world, latent energy and vitalism. Treating line as object, my work blurs boundaries between sculpture, drawing and installation. I work in a linear way, constructing drawings in space.

Materiality and process are central to my practice. The work is hand-made and labour-intensive – the action of making often intuitive, time-consuming and repetitive. Instinctive building processes such as wrapping, weaving and layering become a form of 3d mark making. The raw energy, longevity and patinas of steel, copper and wire make an interesting connection with other found and recycled materials. I like the concept of reusing things, giving them a rebirth, and the playfulness of creating new forms from given shapes.

Sculptures by fiona campbell

Credentials

Biography

Fiona Campbell was born and raised in Kenya (`62). Fiona studied Foundation Art at West Sussex College of Design (`80-`81), Fine Art Degree (painting) at Newcastle Polytechnic (`81-83), Byam Shaw School of Art, London (`84-`87), Exeter University (`93-`94), and Bath Spa UNiversity (`16-`18), gaining Art Foundation (merit), Byam Shaw Diploma (distinction), PGCE and MFA (Class A).

She has been developing her art over many years (drawings, paintings, mixed media work and sculptures), exhibiting widely throughout Southern England, with collections abroad.

Fiona works to private and public commission for indoor and outdoor sculptures.

Concurrent with working as a professional artist, Fiona runs workshops and works on art projects within the community.

Influences

Environmental concerns are important to Fiona. Pressing issues about human exploitation of nature (of which we are a part) and over-consumption informs the content of recent work. Rooted in anti-consumerism, her use of reclaimed, found and discarded materials relates to the issue of waste, utilising and giving them new life. It belongs to a wider subject of our relationship with matter, nature, and ourselves. Materiality and process are central to her practice. The work is hand-made and labour-intensive - the action of making often intuitive, time-consuming and repetitive.

Fiona is interested in natural phenomena – neurons, egg sacs, worms, webs, mycelium, coral life, ancient sea creatures, trees and organs, concepts such as convergence and vitalism. An extract by Donna Haraway (2016) sums up her current concerns about the interconnectedness of life:

‘The tentacular are... fingery beings like humans... squid, jellyfish, neural extravaganzas, fibrous entities, flagellated beings... swelling roots... The tentacular are also nets and networks... Tentacularity is about life lived along lines ... a series of interlaced trails’.

Reviews

Of Fiona`s project `step in stone`, 2015:

‘I have been utterly entranced by what has been achieved by this extraordinary collaborative event. The fourteen artists are from a myriad of artistic disciplines yet have created a glorious spectacle. From the vastness of the quarries to the intimacy of the Black Swan’s Round Tower, the site-specific works harmonise with their environment. Fiona Campbell and her artists have achieved something wonderful.’ Amanda Sheridan, Chair Black Swan Arts, of ‘step in stone‘ 2015

Of Fiona`s Abundance project, 2013:

"Brilliant connection with nature. Full of surprises" Gina Westbrook – TakeArt
"Loved the mix and `aura` of colours and sense of ` funghal` forms thirsting out of the ground. The long winding pathways through the garden leading to the hidden glade of unearthly and earthly treasures!" Robin McDowell
"Amazing to have the imagination to turn a pile of old scrap into something so beautiful" Annette

Public Works

Selected public commissions:

2016 RHS Chelsea Flower Show, Viking Cruises gold/best artisan garden
2016 Bishop sculpture, Bishops Palace, Wells

2015 Temporary site-specific artscapes, `step in stone`, Somerset

2013 Site-specific artwork & exhibition, SAW/NGS Abundance Garden Trail, Somerset; Chameleon sculpture, All Hallows Prep School woodland, Somerset

2012 Swans of Wells Residency and `Candela` Swan, All Hallows Prep School, Somerset

2011 Giant Insects, Stackpool Park, Kidderminster, Wyre Forest Council

2011 Bat sculpture, Tamar Valley Centre, Cornwall

2010 Dragonfly and Nymph sculpture & Giant Spider, Carymoor Environmental Centre, Castle Cary

2009 Series of large Insect sculptures, Dobbies Garden World, Somerset

Teaching Experience
2008-2018 Teacher of Art (extra curricular), All Hallows Preparatory School, Somerset 2009-ongoing Freelance Workshop Leader at various venues including Holburne Museum 2000-09 Teacher of Art, Kings of Wessex School, Cheddar, Somerset 1994-99 Teacher of Art, Churchill Community School, Churchill, Bristol
Public Acquisitions
Royal Overseas League, London; Wyre Forest Valley Council, Worcestershire; Tamar Valley Centre, Cornwall; Carymoor Environmental Centre, Somerset; Dobbies, Somerset; Exeter University, Devon; All Hallows Preparatory School, Somerset; Landfillart Reclamation Project, USA; private collections
Symposiums
Somerset Art Works 2014

Tags

This artists work is found in the following tags on site:
communicating forms elegant group elegant wrapped copper and welded steel on bases free standing sculpture Garden sculptures glistening group of 3 Nature-inspired sculptures patination statue vertical forms wrapped copper and welded steel sculptures Abstract Butterfly Yard statue Abstract Copper sculpture with Butterfly Butterfly on a pod sculpture butterfly sculpture Creature and Plant statue Delicate Woven Butterfly statue Insect sculpture Outsize Butterfly Garden sculpture Wild Animal sculpture delicate hanging form Handwoven wire form Hanging Wire Art Hanging Wire Cocoon sculpture Insect Cocoon sculpture large butterfly cocoon sculpture Outside Cocoon semi-abstract sculpture Wire Hung Garden sculptures Abstract Colourful sculptures Abstract Nest sculptures Big Cocoon sculptures Big Garden sculptures Environmental Art statues Found Materials sculptures Large Insect Nest sculptures Recycled sculptures Semi-Abstract Garden sculpture Woven Wire statues Abstract Woven Garden sculptures Copper Wire Cocoon sculpture Giant Cocoon Art sculptures Organic Nature sculptures Primal form Art statues Steel & Wire sculptures Wire modern Garden statues Woven Structure modern sculptures Woven Wire Cocoon statues Fiona Campbell Garden statue Garden Cocoon sculpture Handwoven Copper Wire Form statue hanging garden statue Suspended Abstract Garden sculpture Wall Hung Wire sculpture Woven Abstract sculpture Woven Wire Cocoon sculpture Woven Wire Garden sculpture Garden Cocoon modern Large Cocoon Garden sculpture surreal form Wire Cocoon Hanging Wire Garden Insect sculpture Woven Copper form Woven Insect Art Woven Layers Woven Wire Abstract sculpture big colourful insect sculpture Dragonfly sculpture for Garden dragonfly statue Insect statue wire dragonfly sculpture for sale Wire dragonfly statue woven wire sculpture Animal sculpture Animal statue Bird of Prey statue Bird sculpture Bird statue Birds of Prey sculpture Owl sculpture Owl statue Wild Animal statue