Beryl Miles

In my studio practice, preparation involves much deliberation and a lot of pushing ideas around in my head. Then fragments of initial ideas are moved around on a flat surface. Drawings come into this process but rarely feature as finished work. Ideas come from a wide variety of sources. I sometimes work out developed ideas as small paper studies and then extend them into larger pieces.
 
 My paintings are a personal response to an idea and involve memory and imagination. Compositions are often sparse and asymmetrical and the idea of simplicity and an absence of elaboration or decoration appeals. I am interested in the pause or the empty space and that which is not included.
 
Structure and composition act as an important scaffold from which a painting might evolve. Japanese design interests me.  I work intuitively when developing an idea  and am constantly re-evaluating by removing paint and revealing underlying surfaces, by letting chance play a role and by changing the emphasis of a painting if I think it improves the overall balance. I often enjoy working in series.
 
In my current figure work, I am attempting to portray a single moment in a heightened experience where the figure is suspended and caught in total absorption or ‘Samadhi’ the flow state, a state of oneness, of being in the moment.
 
I am exploring the tensions between clarity and ambiguity, observation and abstraction and feel that I am straddling a fine line, between literal and suggestive interpretation.

  beryl.miles25

Brief CV

• Brighton College of Art
• Wimbledon College of Art BA Hons Fine Art
• Institute of Education UCL PGCE
• Worked in Arts Education in London, Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire, whilst always continuing my own practice.
• Teacher Fellow Nottingham Trent University
• Final position: Director of a Specialist Arts College responsible for the Arts and Creative Teaching and Learning across the school.
• Subsequently part time work for Derbyshire Advisory Service.

Recent Group Exhibitions:

2024

• Society of Women Artists: Mall Gallery, London.
• Sock Gallery. Open Exhibition. Adult winner.
• ArtSpace: Stamford Arts Centre, Lincs. ‘Edges and Transitions.’
• ArtSpace ‘Flow’ Sock Gallery.

2023

• Sock Gallery, Open Exhibition. (Commended)
• The Gallery, Holt. Norfolk. ‘Drawn to Nature.’
• Society of Women Artists, Mall Gallery. London
• ArtSpace Déda, Derby. ‘Rhythm and Movement.’
• Leicester Museum and Art Gallery: Open Exhibition

2022

• Society of Women Artists, Mall Gallery, London
• Sock Gallery Open Exhibition 2022 (Commended.)
• Leicester Museum and Art Gallery: Open Exhibition
• ArtSpace ‘For Ukraine.’ (online )
• The Gallery Holt, Norfolk ‘The Natural World.’

2021

• ArtSpace: ‘New Work.’ (online)
• Sock Gallery, Open Exhibition. (Commended)
• Leicester Museum and Art Gallery: Open Exhibition
• The Gallery, Holt, Norfolk ‘The Natural World.’ 
• ArtSpace ‘Blue,’ (on-line)
• ArtSpace ‘If Only I Could,’ (on-line)

2020  

• ArtSpace (on-line.)
• ArtSpace ‘In the Dark.’ Déda Performing Arts Centre, Derby. 

2019

• ArtSpace ‘Delight in Disorder.’ Nuneaton Museum and Art Gallery.
• ‘The Gallery, Holt, Norfolk ‘Elements.’
• Society of Women Artists, The Mall Gallery, London.
• Leicester Museum and Art Gallery, Open Exhibition.
• ArtSpace ‘Inside Outside.’ Sock Gallery, Loughborough
• Sock Gallery, Open Exhibition. (Commended)
• ‘Connections.’ The Old Rectory, Loughborough (Four Artists)