Ray Ward @ Broomhill
We have asked the artist to provide a statement about their work, an edited personal history, and a selection of exhibitions and commissions. The content here is entirely their words and selection. Works illustrated here have been chosen by the artist.
The works shown on this page are not necessarily on display at Broomhill.
The Artist Speaks
“When you look at my art all I hope is that you realise how much I care.”
Background
Ray Ward was born in Leicester in 1960, early ambitions were to be a football player and poet, an artist is somewhere between the two and for this he should be grateful. He has exhibited all over the UK, worked on public art projects, been a lecturer in fine art and is now a retained fire fighter. Ray is a painter who at times sees the need to write or perform his ideas; the book 'Hello and Goodbye' can be bought at Broomhill.
Exhibitions and Commisssions
One Person Exhibitions
2002-2001 • World without zero, Broomhill Art Hotel, North Devon.
2001-2000 • The king who played violin, touring exhibition at arts centres, school and community centres in Slough, Swindon, Milton Keynes and Winchester. Included workshops and talks.
1999 • Little histories that changed the world, Broomhill Art Hotel, North Devon. Part of Clerkenwell Literature festival.
1998-1997 • Pogy Boms, Willis Museum, Basingstoke/Winchester Contemporary Art. Included catalogue, workshops and talks.
Selected Group Exhibitions
2002 • Costart, Loughborough University Gallery, computer drawing machine.
1998 • Sticks (Southern Arts Touring Exhibition Service). Various venues including Sunderland, Thatcham, Milton Keynes, Sway.
Relevant Projects
2004
Art at the Centre Slough. Commission of 48 banners for Slough Town Centre, working with artist team and community groups.
Bytes Café. Design, lighting features and wall painting for Bytes Internet café, Marlborough, Wiltshire.
2003
The Sun Greater than Science. Outdoor paintings for Broomhill Sculpture Garden.
IOW Chain Ferry. Refurbishment of Chain Ferry, project with a team of artists, including seating, lighting and community workshops.
Artist in Residence in Computer Science at Loughborough University developing a Drawing Machine.
George Maton. Series of talks based on personal research into a local Victorian artist and poet.
2000
Gallery Go. Series of talks for ‘The King who played violin’ exhibition exploring the connections between narrative and visual art.
CoStart. Residency with Loughborough University to build a pilot computer program for randomly selecting a series of video clips.
1999
Lab Culture. Residency with 12 other artists (musicians, writers, film makers, video artists) at PVA Bridport.
1998-9
Window on the Community. Joint residency with writer Grace Ingoldby.
A residency at The Clere School, Burghclere based on the nearby Stanley Spencer Memorial Chapel. Combining Spencer's writing and painting as direct references to onspire young people (included 13 primary schools and 1 secondary school) to create there own work based on the life and times of Stanley Spencer.
