NICOLA MURRAY

My practice encompasses a broad range of techniques and subject matter.

In the past I have combined photography, printmaking and painting to produce
images that explored the tensions between marks generated through complex
technical processes and those more spontaneously made using drawing and
painting materials.

Having spent four years as a Biology student at Aberdeen University prior to my art training, my interest in biological systems and science continues to influence my work. I am interested in the way in which apparently random elements are often somehow connected. A regularly recurring theme concerns the contrast invariably found between the exterior and interior of things. The difference between surface and substance and the relationship between reality and fantasy is often explored.

After my mother's death in 1997 my work began to focus on the experience of
bereavement and the subsequent documenting, sorting and packing of leftover
possessions. I became interested in the surface qualities and emotional
significance of everyday objects.

The five images in my portfolio on this website were created during this time to be viewed on a monitor.

My most recent body of work is based on the human genome and combines computer manipulated family portraits with digital images of my own body in a series of 23 small photo polymer prints. This work is to be exhibited in Spain in July this year and I intend to exhibit it in Scotland in 2001.

Nicola Murray, April 2000.

E-mail: n.murray@eca.ac.uk

Born 1965 Edinburgh

1983-87
Aberdeen University BSc (Hons) Biology.

1987-88
Edinburgh Royal Infirmary - Physiological monitoring technician in the open-heart
surgery unit.

1988-92
Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art BFA (Hons) Drawing and Painting.

Sep 92
Awarded John Kinross Scholarship by the Royal Scottish Academy to live and
work in Florence, Italy.

Sep 93
Visual artist for 'The Crofting Project', a multi-arts project for people with special
needs at the Smith Art Gallery and Museum, Stirling.

Jan 94
Visual artist to run Artlink collage project at Allan Park home for the elderly,
Stirling.

Jan 94
Visual artist to co-ordinate and manage a five day mural project by pupils in a
Grangemouth primary school.

Feb 94
Visual artist for multi-arts collaborative project, Falkirk.

Sep 94
Visual artist to devise and run ten week Artlink project with long term residents
at Bellsdyke Hospital, Falkirk. Funding was secured for a further five similar
projects as a result of this work.

Feb 95
Visual artist for five week puppet project at the Riverside Centre, Stirling.

Oct 95
Visual artist to run ten week Artlink project with long term residents at Bellsdyke
hospital, Falkirk.

1996-present
Full time Technician, First Year Studies Department, Edinburgh College of Art.

Jun 99
Printmaking tutor for Saturday Morning Class, Centre of Continuing Studies, Edinburgh College of Art

Exhibitions

1989
Student Collective Exhibition, Roseangle Gallery, Dundee

1990
Paisley Art Institute Drawing Competition, Paisley

1991
Royal Scottish Academy (RSA) Student Exhibition, Edinburgh
Society of Artists (SSA) Centenary Exhibition, Edinburgh

1992
RSA Student Exhibition Macallan Award Winner
RSA Annual Exhibition Keith Prize Winner

1993
Morrison Scottish Portrait Award Exhibition
Edinburgh Printmakers Workshop Christmas Show

1994
Collective Gallery, Gallery iii
'Signals' Festival of Women Photographers Open Show
SSA 100th Exhibition
Scottish Arts Club Annual Exhibition
'The Printers Tale', an exhibition of contemporary illustrations by British
printmakers at the Collins Gallery, Glasgow
Edinburgh Printmakers Workshop Christmas Show
Collective Gallery CD3

1995
'Prints from Scotland', Lamont Gallery, London
'Poetry and the Visual arts', Netherbow Arts Centre, Edinburgh
RSA Annual Exhibition
Written work selected for performance in "Love Bites" poetry reading event, Castlemilk Writer's Festival
'Nine Lives', an exhibition of work by nine contemporary printmakers at Edinburgh Printmakers Workshop
SSA Annual Exhibition
Collective Gallery, Gallery iii

1996
'Seven', solo show, Theatre Workshop, Edinburgh
'Underwired', Edinburgh women artists group print portfolio show, Edinburgh
Printmakers Workshop

1997
Line Gallery, Linlithgow
Edinburgh Printmakers Workshop Christmas show

1998
Art on the Rock, Stirling Castle, Stirling
SSA Annual Exhibition

1999
Fruitmarket Gallery, Edinburgh - work displayed at the 'mapping the mind' forum, Edinburgh International Science Festival.
Invited to contribute to 'Deepend', an international text based art event, part of an artist run project in Glasgow.
19th Mini Print International, Cadaques, Spain - award winner. Invited to hold one person show in Cadaques in summer 2000.
Scottish Cultural Resources Access Network (SCRAN) National Photography Competition - prize-winner.
SSA Annual Exhibition
Contemporary Print Fair, Atlantis Gallery, London

2000
Invited to participate in the Sharjah Arts Museum Postal Art Project, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates.

Collections

Paintings in Hospitals Scotland
RSA John Kinross Collection
IMPACT Portfolio 1999, University of West England
ADOGI, Barcelona, Spain