Self Portrait as Beast

Billie Ireland is an artist based in Mid-Wales in the UK. Although she is known for her organic abstract paintings her work has developed over the past two decades to also encompass sculptural and assemblage elements whilst exploring photography and moving image. This multi-disciplinary approach is used to capture raw and intuitive responses to her experience of biological and spiritual birth. The artist’s ongoing research themes are grief, memory, trauma and the maternal. Her practice continues to be rooted in the handmade and her interest in the alchemy of materials. She is currently developing her practice within an academic setting at Masters level.

Education Art Workshops & Community Arts

Over the past 16 years, I have delivered qualifications and informal workshops to a wide variety of groups, both in higher & further education and in the community.

I have extensive experience of working with disadvantaged groups and people with learning and/or mental health difficulties. I have taught in residential care, NHS, hospice and mental health day service and other community settings.

Projects have included murals and mosaics for Surestart Children's Centre, Newstead. Stonebridge City Farm, Westdale Lane Allotments, LIFE Day Centre for adults with learning difficulties, New College Nottingham and Crocus Fields Children's Home.

Some of the educational workshops I can deliver include the following:

• Murals and tile/ pebble mosaic
• Art & Design
• Drawing, paper arts and pyrography
• Painting & printmaking
• Traditional techniques in Gesso, relief work and gilding
• Egg tempera. Acrylic and water-based mediums.
• Felt making and fibre arts, silk painting, dyeing and stitch.
• 3D model making and sculpture.

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Selected Exhibitions