Liz Chapman

Liz
Chapman

My artistic practice is an attentive exploration of the treasures found in science, nature and my local environment. I’m intrigued by the weave and weft, colour and shapes that often go unnoticed in the world around us. My practice uses a wide range of mediums including textiles, digital technology and recycled materials to record my observations. I experiment with digital media, photo, moving-image, fabrics, pen and pencil to recreate the qualitative elements and synthetic representation of my everyday environment.

I take an active role in supporting Wigan Borough’s art community, including my involvement as an associate artist and trustee at Cross Street Arts.

I founded the Wigan & Leigh Art Map in 2023. The Art Map aims to provide a way to find out about the arts and culture sector in Wigan Borough; heightening awareness of our rich network of artists and arts organisations. The ambition of the map project is to help bring the local art community closer together and encourage investment and visitors to the borough.

Between 2016 – 2018, I was the Coordinator and Curator for the D:Circus Digital Art Project; a two-year programme funded by Arts Council England and Wigan Libraries & The Museum of Wigan Life. I worked with a variety of artists and arts organisations to explore the world of digital creativity and artistic expression, through a myriad of high quality and innovative digital art experiences. Throughout the two-year project, I co-ordinated inclusive exhibitions, experiences and participatory activities to reach residents who may feel excluded from digital learning, digital arts experiences and traditional cultural settings. This included a refreshed approach to Light Festivals with the creation of Light Night Wigan & Leigh, Museums at Night and a bespoke digital art pack for young people delivered across Libraries. The project welcomed an audience of 6,214 and 6,026 attendees to participatory activities. I also worked with 75 individual artists and created 207 volunteer and community support opportunities.

Education

2015, Education and Training NVQ Level 3, WLCT

2014, Art History BA (Hons) Degree, The Open University

2007, Art and Design (Fine Arts) Certificate of Higher Education, The University of Bolton

September 2024, 25 in ‘24 Open Air Exhibition at Mesnes Street and Believe Square, Wigan

December 2023, Christmas Markets
Exhibition at Cross Street Arts, Standish

June 2023, The Care Leavers Hub Mural
Me and my work team volunteered painting a mural on the wall of the Care Leavers Hub in Wigan. The design was created in collaboration with young people accessing the hub, an area where care leavers can relax and socialise. They wanted shapes and symbols that portrayed things that are important to them. I transferred the design on to the wall ready for me and my team to fill with colour. It was wonderful to hear about a young person explaining their interpretation of the design to new visitors. – “Secret messages in the mountains, steps represent the challenges young people will face and overcome, the rising sun symbolises brighter and better days, other shapes represent peace and safety as this is a safe space – not just physically but emotionally.”

January 2023, The Turnpike Open: New Art from Leigh and Wigan
Exhibition at The Turnpike Gallery, Leigh

July 2022, Standish Library Book Bench
I volunteered for a project organised by the Friends of Standish Library. The project started with a competition for local children to draw their favourite book character to be painted on the Standish Library garden bench. The Friends of Standish Library received over a hundred entries, it was a difficult judging the designs and we chose 14 winning designs. I set to work arranging the designs and transferring them on to the bench; the Guides then did a fantastic job of painting the bench. The bench was unveiled on Saturday 16th July 2022 with a lovely crowd of people coming to celebrate. The bench was funded and supported by Standish Councillors and the Wigan Libraries team. Visit the bench (Opens map in a new tab)

October 2022, Rhythm: Art in Conversation with Music
Exhibition at The Storey, Lancaster

July 2022, Consilience Issue 9 – ‘Emergence’
Feature in Online Journal

May 2022, Platinum Jubilee posters
I designed a large-scale colouring-in celebration poster for 10 Libraries across Wigan Borough celebrating Queen Elizabeth’s Platinum Jubilee. Visitors were invited to colour in the posters to be displayed in the library.

May 2022, Digital Masterpieces
Workshops at Wigan and Leigh Library in association with WiganSTEAM

August 2022, Microscopic Worlds
Workshop for Children accessing HAF Activities at Tyldesley Library

August 2021, Really Rubbish Weavings
Workshop at Archives: Wigan & Leigh, Leigh

August 2021, Sun Prints and Nature Frames
Workshop for Children accessing HAF Activities at Shevington Library

May 2021, My Wildlife Diary
Online Tutorial for Families, part of Wigan STEAM’s Seedlings Project

April 2020 – May 2021
A Series of Online Exhibitions: Inside, Space, Fragments, Beginning and End, Light and Hybrid @CrossStreetArts

March – July 2021, I am a Thinking Machine
A series of workshops exploring digital identity, avatars and the online world through the creation of digital art work and portraits with young people at Wigan STEAM.