MARION SMYLIE
ARTIST
My interdisciplinary arts practice is concerned with ecologies, highlighting loss of biodiversity and interconnectedness. I am fascinated by exploring interspecies relationships and their entanglements.
My practice is often site specific, working in a bio-inclusive way I connect to elements within a place and collaborate with dynamic agents - living materials and systems. My methodology includes fieldwork -connecting with plants, fungi and soil for example-and allowing the materials to guide me in a process of unfolding. I might make botanical inks, charcoal or paper with materials I've gathered . Drawing and observation are key to my practice and curiosity leads me to explore subjects further through researching archives and folklore.
I am particularly interested in the cross-pollination of disciplines and how this might be useful in promoting change. Through a lens of intrigue and wonder, I address human relationships within the natural world and question outdated narratives, exploring what might happen when we investigate the ways we can engage with the world in a responsible, respectful and reciprocal way.
BIO
Initially trained in theatre, I went on to study BA Visual Performance at Dartington College of Art, Devon. In the years following, I primarily worked in schools and also as an illustrator, published by Green Books, with titles including Creating A Forest Garden and other books by Martin Crawford. In 2020 I returned to education to study for a Masters Degree in Fine Art at Arts University Plymouth, graduating with Distinction in September 2022.
I can also be found creating strange creatures from scraps, indulging my theatrical side at festivals, crafting sourdough bread, documenting my dreams in paintings, star-gazing and attemping to I.D fungi.
I am based in west Wales.
Exhibitions and Awards
April 2025 DESIRE LINES Sapphire Blue Collective Birdwood House Totnes
Mar 2025 THIS WOMEN"S WORK Group exhibiton Oriel Canfas Cardigan
Nov 2024 OFFERINGS with Jack Smylie Wild Seagull Gallery Cardigan
Oct 2024 ANNWN Otherworlds Group Exhibition Walden Arts Cardigan
July 2024 HEADROOM Sapphire Blue Collective KROWJI Cornwall
Oct 2023 UK Fungus Day Group Exhibition Exeter University Devon
July 2023 Radiance, Rubrics & Rituals S.B.C Make Tank Exeter
April 2023 Breaking Convention Conference Group Exhibition Exeter University
Nov 2022 SPROUT Sapphire Blue Collective Grow Plymouth
Oct 2022 UK Fungus Day Living Systems Institute Exeter University
Sept 2022 CYFEST_14 Ferment Arts & Ecology Festival Dartington Devon
Sept 2022 Matters Arising MA Graduates Arts University Plymouth
Feb 2022 Midstream MA Students showcase Arts University Plymouth
Dec 2021 Field Note with Shereon Knowles Dartington Devon
Sept 2021 Crucible Group exhbition Leadworks Plymouth
Aug 2021 Petri Dish Project Group exhibition TEBBS Spitalfields London
Sept 2022 Pro Vice Chancellor Award: Arts University Plymouth for an outstanding body of postgraduate work
Nov 2021 Wilhelmina Barns-Graham Award Funding research at National Botanic Garden of Wales
April 2021 Green Minds Permaculture Design Project Selected for design team, redesigning the site of the old Plymouth Zoo
