Anita Bell MSDC

Stitched & Constructed Textiles

About Anita
Anita creates one off pieces using a variety of painted papers which are embellished with stitch. Inspired by skies, particularly at dawn and dusk, her work is about capturing a moment in time, depicting the essence of something that is caught in an instant, yet in reality remains elusive and ever-changing
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Biography Back to top

Anita's paperworks are one-off pieces, created using papers painted with watercolour or dye, which are torn, layered and embellished with stitch.

The technique evolved from a study of frescoes and wall paintings, trying to capture the effects of the natural pigments, faded imagery and the peeling paint.

Her current series of work is about capturing a moment in time, depicting the essence of something that is caught in an instant, yet in reality remains elusive and ever-changing.

The focus is on the horizon and embodies this philosophy: after taking hundreds of photos of sunrises and sunsets she is fascinated by how the light changes in every fraction of a second so that no one image is the same.

Shakkei, a Japanese garden term for the “borrowed view” beyond the garden and Ikedori, meaning “captured alive”, are the current inspiration for each piece, reflecting the constantly changing light, particularly at dawn and dusk.

There is something about the light at dawn or dusk, just before the sun appears over the horizon or just after it disappears completely; most sunrises and sunsets are beautiful but very occasionally there is one that is so exceptionally dazzling it leaves an indelible impression on your mind.

These are the images that are built into the work: not an exact depiction of what she sees but rather an abstract interpretation constructed through layers of paper and stitch, trying to reproduce something that doesn’t actually exist any more and make it tangible.

Anita works by making quick sketches and watercolour studies to try to capture the atmosphere of a fleeting moment and then transfers that into paper and stitch.

With a thin thread as a medium, details of an imaginary landscape are drawn out using dense lines of stitch that are overlaid like paint, to build up depths of colour.

Resumé Back to top

Education

  • BA (Hons) Art and Related Arts
  • PGCE Post Compulsory Education and Training


Awards

  • Paperworks 2023, b. j. spoke gallery, New York (Third Place)
  • First Prize, 2D Mixed Media, Beverly Hills Art Show, Los Angeles, USA
  • First Prize, 2D Mixed Media, Beverly Hills Art Show, Los Angeles, USA
  • Highly Commended Stride Open, Chichester
  • Highly Commended Portsmouth Open Exhibition
  • Highly Commended Worthing Open Exhibition
  • Shortlisted Henry Foyle Award for Stitched Textiles


Societies

  • Member of the Society of Designer Craftsmen
  • Member of IAPMA
  • Listed on the Crafts Council Directory
  • Associate Member of Art Space, Portsmouth


Publications

  • PaperArt, 261 International Artists published by IAPMA


Sponsorship

  • Madeira Threads (UK) Limited


Selected Exhibitions

  • 2023 Paper Alive Exhibition with IAPMA, Dresden, Germany
  • 2023 Paperworks 2023, b.j.spoke gallery, Huntington, New York
  • 2023 Emsworth Arts Trail, Emsworth, Hampshire
  • 2023 New Shoots, Art Space, Portsmouth
  • 2022 Transformations, SDC Exhibition at Bankside Gallery, London
  • 2022 Emsworth Arts Trail, Emsworth, Hampshire
  • 2021 Emsworth Arts Trail, Emsworth, Hampshire
  • 2021 Feasts on Paper Exhibition with IAPMA, Guangzhou, China
  • 2021 Origins and Destinations with IAPMA, Toyota, Japan
  • 2021 Origins and Destinations with IAPMA, Burnie, Tasmania, Australia
  • 2021 RBSA Gallery, Birmingham with Society of Designer Craftsmen
  • 2020 Vivid Exhibition with Colourworkers at Oxmarket Gallery, Chichester
  • 2018 The Contemporary Textiles Fair, Landmark Arts Centre, Teddington
  • 2018 Feasts on Paper Exhibition, Guangzhou, China
  • 2018 Inspired by Paper, IAPMA Exhibition currently touring Europe
  • 2017 Emsworth Arts Trail, Emsworth, Hampshire
  • 2017 Inspired by Paper, IAPMA Touring Exhibition in Europe
  • 2016 Shop within the Show, Summer Crafts at the Mall, London
  • 2016 Emsworth Arts Trail, Emsworth, Hampshire
  • 2016 Inspired by Paper, IAPMA Touring Exhibition in Europe
  • 2016 Frome Art Fair, Frome, Somerset
  • 2015 Beverly Hills Art Show, Los Angeles
  • 2015 Society of Designer Craftsmen Winter Exhibition, London
  • 2015 Frome Art Fair, Frome, Somerset
  • 2014 Beverly Hills Art Show, Los Angeles
  • 2014 Nourish, Bovey Tracey, Devon
  • 2014 Beverly Hills Art Show, Los Angeles
  • 2014 Landmark Contemporary Textile Fair, Teddington
  • 2014 Society of Designer Craftsmen Winter Exhibition, London
  • 2012 Black Swan Open Art Exhibition, Frome
  • 2012 Society of Designer Craftsmen Winter Exhibition, London
  • 2011 Brewery Art Centre, Burton on Trent
  • 2011 MK-Artworks, Milton Keynes
  • 2011 Silver, IAPMA Exhibition, 69 Smith Street Gallery, Victoria, Australia
  • 2011 International Miniature Art Exhibition, Quebec
  • 2011 Hackwood Art Festival, Basingstoke
  • 2010 PaperWEIGHT, Dolly Mixtures, The Washington Gallery, Penarth
  • 2010 West Ox Art Gallery, Bampton, Nr Oxford
  • 2010 Society of Designer Craftsmen, Winter Exhibition, London
  • 2009 William Morris Society Christmas Fair, Kelmscott House, London
  • 2009 PaperWEIGHT, Dolly Mixtures, Bedales School, Steep, Hampshire
  • 2009 SDC Gallery, London
  • 2009 Handmade, Milsom Place, Bath
  • 2008 Wheel of the Year, Bridgwater Arts Centre, Bridgwater, Somerset
  • 2008 Wheel of the Year, Thelma Hulbert Gallery, Honiton
  • 2008 Sussex Artists’ Exhibition, Arundel
  • 2007 PaperWEIGHT, Paper Horizons, Nature in Art, Twigworth, Gloucester
  • 2006-8 Designer Crafts @ Chelsea, Chelsea Old Town Hall, London
  • 2002-5 Battersea Contemporary Art Fair, Battersea, London
  • 2003 Walford Mill Gallery, Wimborne, Dorset
  • 2004-6 The Contemporary Craft Fair, Bovey Tracey, Devon
  • 2004-7 Contemporary Textiles Exhibition, Landmark Arts Centre, Teddington
  • 2004 Society of Designer Craftsmen, Oxo Gallery, London
  • 2004 Devon Guild of Craftsmen, Bovey Tracey
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