ABOUT THE ARTIST

Angela is a British artist whose formative years were spent in North Yorkshire and London. In 2014, she relocated from London to the inspiring surroundings of North Gloucestershire - known as "an area of outstanding natural beauty". Angela has travelled widely throughout the UK and abroad, visiting varied and contrasting landscapes, art collections and artists. She has also studied the history of art extensively and has a PhD in Art History and Curatorship. Currently she is completing a book which reflects upon the role of the contemporary artist, as well as a collection of short stories dedicated to trees.

SALES ENQUIRIES

Studio contact
amsummerfield@btinternet.com

CURRENT RESEARCH INTERESTS

Empathy theory relating to the visual arts
History of colour and light theories and "hidden geometry" relating to the visual arts
Experiences of the rural and natural environments within the context of contemporary and historical visualisations of landscape

PUBLICATIONS & MEDIA

Books & Catalogues

'Green: A Nomenclature for Contemporary Living' in 'Place: Home,' Bath Spa University Art Research Centre, 2022
'Green Truth - the forest as a unique creative space,' in 'Evolving the Forest,' art.earth publishing,
ISBN 9780995719637, 2020 click here
‘Being with Trees,’ Plato-Beale Productions, ISBN 978-0-9555510-3-1, 2020
'EMPATHY', Canwood Gallery, ISBN 9781527227538, 2018
‘The Arborealists: The Art of Trees/Les Arboréalistes: L’art des arbres’, Plato-Beale Productions, ISBN 9780955551055, 2017

‘Der Baum und ich: meine persönliche Baumgeschichte’, Zentrum Paul Klee, Zurich, Archival Collection 2016

'The Arborealists: The Art of the Tree', (co-author, author of the main essay ‘Why do Artists Paint Trees?’ and featured artist) Sansom & Company, ISBN9781908326867, 2016

’Landscape Painting and the Role of Memory: an Artist’s Approach’ (illustrated catalogue essay) Angela Summerfield, in ‘Affecting Perception: Art & Neuroscience’, O3 Gallery, Oxford, 2013 click here

‘Who’s Who in Art’ (35th and subsequent editions) 2012

Articles

'Experience of Wonder: Wonderment,' in 'Mayfair Life,' November 2021 click here
'Picture This,' Kit Buchan in Broadleaf Magazine (Autumn Issue) 2019
‘Bark with Plenty of Bite: three complementary exhibitions reveal the calming qualities of trees and their rich possibilities’, Rachel Cooke in ‘The Guardian’ and ‘The Observer’, 31st December 2017
‘Feminism and Contemporary Landscape Practice Meets ‘The Art of Trees’, International Association of Art Critics (AICA) UK Website, December 2017

'The Forest's Music (The Life of the Forest)' oil painting reproduced in 'Leaf' Spring Issue, 2017, p4
'Garden History', book review of 'The Arborealists: The Art of the Tree', Winter 2016

'The British Art Journal', book review of 'Arborealists: The Art of the Tree', Autumn 2016
‘The Changing Face of the British Landscape’, Rachel Campbell-Johnston in ‘The Times’, 30th April 2016

‘Landscape Painting to the Fore: Angela Summerfield adds layers of meaning to elevate the genre’, James Brewer in ‘All About Shipping - London’s Maritime Business Forum’, May 2013 click here

‘Striking Exhibition Celebrates Landscape’ (illus.) in ‘The Darlington & Stockton Times’, 20th July 2012


PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIP

The Tate British Art Network: Landscape Subgroup - www.britishartnetwork.org.uk
Elected member of AICA (International Association of Art Critics, UK Section) - www.aicauk.org

Member of Space Place Practice : a UK artists’ research collective - www.spaceplacepractice.com
Member of the Walking Artists Network - www.walkingartistsnetwork.org

AWARDS

Short-listed for the Jerwood Visual Arts Artist Bursary 2017
British Government Scholarship, The British Academy (PhD three-year award)

ARTIST IN RESIDENCE

Nature in Art, Gloucestershire, May 2017

EDUCATION

PhD History of Art and Curatorship, City University (London)
MA History of Art, Courtauld Institute (University of London)
BA (Hons) Fine Art, University of Leeds

CAREER

Artist: founder and curator of The Memory Collective, a UK not-for-profit exhibitions and projects-based
organisation: www.thememorycollective.co.uk

Art Critic: Art critic for ‘The Spectator’ (2000-2013). 100+ articles for other publications which include
‘Apollo’, ‘The Art Book’, ‘Art Review’, ‘Cassone: The International Online Magazine of Art & Art Books’,
‘Galleries’, ‘Modern Painters’, ‘Print Quarterly’, ‘RA Magazine’, ‘RSA Journal’ and ‘SCAN Magazine’.

Art Historian: Catalogue essays and extended catalogue entries on contemporary, modern and historical art for public institutions and commercial galleries: these include Leeds City Art Gallery; The Walker Art Gallery (National Museums and Galleries on Merseyside); Royal Academy of Arts (London); Rabley Drawing Centre (Wiltshire), Stephanie Hoppen Fine Art Gallery (London) and AXNS (Oxford). Public Lectures & Talks: (include) National Gallery (History Study Group Lecture), Royal Academy (Gallery Talks), V & A Museum (Symposium Lecture), The Walker Art Gallery (Gallery Talks) and The Yorkshire Sculpture Park (Symposium Lecture).

Art Curator (starting with the most recent): Founder & Curator of The Memory Collective (London); previously Senior Curator (Paintings and Sculpture) Royal Academy of Arts; and Assistant Keeper (British Art), Walker Art Gallery (National Galleries and Museums on Merseyside).


ART FAIRS

LONDON ART FAIRS
AAF Battersea, Noon Powell Fine Art, March 2022
AAF Battersea, Noon Powell Fine Art, July 2021

Fresh Art Fair, Ascot, Wetpaint Gallery, September 2019
AAF Battersea, Autumn 2015

Art in Marylebone, June 2013

The Fulham Palace Art & Craft Fair, May 2013

The Other Art Fair, November 2012

ARTS FESTIVALS

National Tree Week, The Tree Council 2020, invited speaker
The Times and The Sunday Times, Cheltenham Literature Festival 2019, Woodland Trust Event: The Art of Trees, invited speaker

Being Human Festival, Humanising Medicine exhibition, St Bart’s Hospital, London, November 2019
Changing Times, Little Buckland Gallery, Broadway Arts Festival, Worcestershire 2014
Tudor Barn Arts, Greenwich Arts Festival, London 2011
The Festival of Yorkshire: God's Own Country, Weston Park Museum, Sheffield.
Artist as photographer: photographic stills included in the film launch June 2017

EXHIBITIONS

NATIONAL COMPETITION-EXHIBITIONS

Discerning Eye, Mall Galleries 2014, 2002

The Threadneedle Prize (short-listed for exhibition) 2013

John Moores Painting Prize (short-listed for exhibition) 2012

The National Open Art Competition (short-listed for exhibition) 2012

Singer Friedlander/The Sunday Times Competition, Mall Galleries & UK Tour 2004

 

LONDON COMPETITION-EXHIBITIONS

Chelsea Art Society (Open Section) 2011, 2008

Art Liberating Lives (in aid of the Sue Ryder Charity) Mall Galleries 2009

Cork Street Open 2009

Deptford X 2008, 2007

Southwark Open 2007

 

LONDON CURATED GROUP EXHIBITIONS
Experience of Wonder: Wonderment, Noon Powell Fine Art 2021
Being with Trees, Art Bermondsey Project Space 2021
The Arborealists: The Art of Trees, Art Bermondsey Project Space 2017-2018

Fight for Sight, Menier Gallery 2013

Cold Climate, Occupy My Time Gallery, Deptford 2013

A Walk in the Park: Artworks inspired by Greenwich Royal Park and Blackheath, Studio 61 Gallery 2012

The Landscape of Memory, inaugural exhibition of The Memory Collective, supported by the Royal Norwegian Embassy,
NoFormat Gallery 2012

Stairway to Heaven Memorial Trust Charity Auction, RichMix, Shoreditch 2011

Second Floor Studios & Arts, Woolwich 2011, 2010

Arthub, Deptford 2009, 2008

Courtauld Alumni, The Arts Club 2009

Frameworks, Deptford 2007, 2006

 

UK CURATED GROUP EXHIBITIONS (OTHER THAN LONDON)
In the Open [Arts Council-funded exhibition], The Gallery, Ryedale Folk Museum, North Yorkshire 2021
The Narrative of Trees, Gallery East, Suffolk 2020-2021
The Aborealists, The National Memorial Arboretum (NMA) 2019-2020
The Arborealists and Invited Artists, Fyne Court (National Trust), Somerset 2019

Art in the City, Gloucester Cathedral, Gloucester 2019

EMPATHY: paintings, prints and sculptures by Angela and Caroline Summerfield, Canwood Gallery, Herefordshire 2018
The Arborealists and Invited Artists, Nature in Art (NIA), Gloucestershire 2017

Arborealists: The Art of Trees, Mottisfont Abbey (National Trust) 2016

The Arborealists, St Barbe Museum & Art Gallery, Hampshire 2016

A Celebration of Yorkshire, Chantry House Gallery, Ripley 2012

Your Place: 60 Years of the North Yorkshire Moors National Park [Arts Council-funded exhibition], Inspired by Gallery, The Moors National Park Centre, Danby 2012

 

LONDON SOLO EXHIBITIONS

Tree Lives: a celebration of our Green Canopies, Noon Powell Fine Art 2022
A Sense of Light, Chelsea & Westminster Hospital (London’s flagship “art hospital”) 2010

Second Floor Studios & Arts 2009

THEATRE

'The Forest's Music (The Life of the Forest)', oil painting selected to feature as a backdrop still and as the programme cover for 'The Tree Charter Tapestry', The Everyman Theatre, Cheltenham, June 2017

 

COLLECTIONS

PRIVATE COLLECTIONS

United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, Germany and USA

 

OTHER COLLECTIONS

Greenwich & Bexley Cottage Hospice, UK