Artist Statement Curriculum Vitae

Guy Begbie

Guy-Begbie-Sculptural-Book-Structure-2

‘Architectural Paper Based Book Construction’  (GB 2015)

My practice is multidisciplinary/interdisciplinary with specific focus on artists books/bookworks. These are realised using printmaking, drawing, painting, small scale casting, video media and bookbinding. My current book works are made as responses to architectural built environments and the sculptural aspects of both urban and natural landscapes.

I have a specific interest in examining parallels between the book and architectural structures, in conjunction with non-linear image and text based narrative, concerning site and place.

When making book works, my conceptual framework also addresses the potential for the opened configured book to be a physical container of space and object. The time-based aspect of the book is also significant in my practice, sometimes realised through filmic moving image and sound in video shorts. These are usually made as counterpart extensions of book-based concepts.

My books often allude to the theme of passage, dérive or walking through landscape. They are constructed to be opened out and configured as freestanding, displayed structures that convey a sense of the visual poetics of contained architectural and sculptural layered space.

The book works are usually made using a variety of bookbinding & paper engineering methodologies. These are applied to analogue & digitally printed/paper based media and appropriated reconfigured book material.

Many of the works can be viewed in multi-configurations, held in the hands for more intimate tactile thumbing through viewing/reading engagement or opened up, extended and displayed freestanding in the round as physically expanded sculptural structures containing architecturally immersive non-linear narratives.

In my practice, I often make paper based concertina books of a conventional scale when folded down closed. However they expand upwards, downwards and horizontally when opened out, with the possibility of multi configurations to cover a much larger surface area than that of the closed book.

The transition of the folded closed book from a flat object to a configured multi dimensional and faceted container structure never fails to intrigue me.

I also sometimes make accompanying small scale sculptural cast non-paper based artefacts which are realised as architectural/ objects. These counterpart works are made to a book scale in cement, plaster, beeswax and lead. They are cast in improvised paper based and alginate moulds. When configured together in juxtaposition with the paper based book works, the book and its page facets has the potential to spatially intersect with and contain the cast sculptural objects.

As well as providing a contrast in the juxtaposition of materials, the cast forms also provide compositional starting points for a drawing/hand rendering process onto and into the book pages, which becomes narrative content. This drawing process is carried out in parallel with the book’s construction and binding.

Other drawing approaches include the 3D scanning of book and cast fabrications. The scans then provide a foundation image resource for 2D page layout compositions made with superimposed digital drawing and typographic content.

The analogue drawing methodologies made directly into the book, include the use of a variety of applied surface media, as well as page perforation, folding, cut through forms and page apertures. These methods of rendering, highlight the nature of page layering as well as paper qualities. The paper stock used, may be varied to include the opaque, translucent and pages with colour, as well as fragments of appropriated printed library discard material. Dramatic emphasis of cut and perforated forms through page surfaces can be achieved by lighting and the subsequent shadows cast over and through the work.

Architectural-Paper-Based-Book-Construction--Guy-Begbie

‘Architectural Paper Based Book Construction’  3D Scan  (GB 2017)

Academic Qualifications

MA Multidisciplinary Printmaking                                                                             

University of the West of England, Bristol, UK

2000

Teaching Award: Post Graduate Certificate in Higher Education                      

University of the West of England, Bristol, UK

1999

Bookbinding City & Guilds                                                                                                    

Brunel College, Bristol, UK

1992 -1996

BA (Hons) Graphic Design/Illustration                                                                              

Bristol Polytechnic, Bristol, UK

1984

Higher Education Employment / External Examiner

London College of Communication

University of the Arts London, UK           

External Examiner for Postgraduate & Undergraduate Courses

BA (Hons) Book Arts

PGCert Book Arts

PGDip Book Restoration

2005 – 2009

Higher Education Employment / Teaching

University of the West of England: Bristol, UK

Associate Lecturer

Undergraduate/Postgraduate & Continuing Professional Development Courses in Book Arts, Graphic Design, Printmaking, Drawing & Contemporary Applied & Fine Arts

1995 – 2019

Swansea School of Art, University of Wales: Swansea, UK

Trinity Saint David

Visiting Lecturer/Practitioner

Textiles Dept, delivering staff CPD

2017

 

Royal College of Art: London, UK

Visiting Lecturer

Mixed Media Textiles, School of Material: ‘Stitch & Book Structure Workshop in a Manifesto Context’

2015

The Centre for Contemporary Printmaking (Trykkeriet) Bergen, Norway

Devised & taught a Bespoke 3 day Book Workshop for professional artists collaborating on a book arts project supported by the Norwegian Art Council & Vederlagsfondet (the fund of Norwegian Visual Artists).

2015

Masters Programme, 

Department of Drawing, 

The Faculty of Fine Arts of San Carlos, 

The Polytechnic University of Valencia, 

Valencia, Spain

Visiting Lecturer/Practitioner delivering teaching to Masters level student cohort. ‘Artists Books: Two-Dimensional to Three-Dimensional’

2014

University of Portsmouth: Portsmouth, UK

Visiting Speaker & Lecturer

BA (Hons) Illustration

2015 & 2017

University of Worcester: Worcester, UK

Visiting Lecturer

BA (Hons) Illustration

2014

University of Brighton: Brighton, UK

Visiting Lecturer

BA Hons Fine Art (printmaking)

2013

The Interactive Design Institute: Edinburgh, Scotland, UK (in partnership with the University of Hertfordshire)

Lecturer delivering online teaching

BA (Hons) Graphic Design & Illustration

2013 – 2017

 

Institute of Contemporary Interdisciplinary

Arts: University of Bath: Bath, UK

Bookbinding Tutor

2012- 2013

 

Hereford College of Arts: Hereford, UK                    

Book Arts Coordinator and Lecturer

Delivering teaching for:

BA (Hons) courses in Graphic Design, Illustration, Fine Art, Fine Art Blacksmithing, Photography, Contemporary Applied Arts, Spatial Design, Textiles and Art & Design Foundation Diploma

2000 – 2012

Cardiff School of Art & Design, UWIC: Cardiff, Wales, UK

Visiting lecturer

BA Hons Fine Art (printmaking) Student delivery & Continuing Professional Development for academic staff

2007 – 2008

University of Gloucestershire: Cheltenham, UK

Visiting Lecturer

BA (Hons) Illustration & Fine Art Printmaking

2007 – 2008

Winchester School of Art:

University of Southampton, UK

Visiting Lecturer

BA Hons Graphic Design & Fine Art

2007, 2008 & 2013

 

Independent Book Arts Workshop & Bookbinding Course Provider 2007 – 2019

Devising & Delivery of Interdisciplinary bespoke CPD Book Making Workshops for Artists & Designers. Content includes practice based research & development of book structures, investigating sequential & non-linear narrative outcomes, with both typographic and image applications. Delivered in Higher Education, Museums, Libraries, Design Agencies, Arts & Cultural Events.

Courses & workshops have been delivered for the following organisations:

State Library of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia

Siganto Foundation Artists’ Books Workshop & Masterclass

April 2016

Firestation Print Studio, Melbourne, VIC, Australia

2016 & 2017

 

Newcastle Printmakers Workshop, Newcastle, NSW, Australia

2016   

 

John Rylands Library, The University of Manchester, UK

 

Northern Print, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK

 

Humber Mouth Festival Of Literature, Hull, UK

 

Bath Festivals, Bath Central Library, Bath, UK

 

Gloucestershire Print Cooperative, Stroud, UK

 

Hay Festival, Hay-on–Wye, UK

 

CTLAD Conference, Lisbon, Portugal

 

Eastside Projects Birmingham in Collaboration with the Royal College of Art: London, UK

 

Prema Arts Centre, Stroud, UK

 

Spike Island International Centre, Bristol, UK

 

ARLIS Conference, Bristol, UK

Oriel Myrddin Gallery, Carmarthen, Wales, UK

 

Artist Residencies

Artist’s Book and Printmaking Residencies Overseas

Artist in Residence Researching & Developing New Works at:

2017:  Cicada Press, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia

2016:  Canberra School of Art,  Australian National University, Canberra, Australia

2016:  Queensland College of Art, Griffith Centre for Creative Arts Research,

Griffith University, Brisbane, Australia.

Published Artists’ Book Reviews and Essays

Artists’ Book Reviewer: Book Arts Newsletter: UWE:

Artists’ Book Reviews in BAN numbers 31, 33, 35, 36, 39

Artist’s Book Year Book 2006 – 2007

Impact Press 2005   (ed) Sarah Bodman

ISBN 0 9543810 9 2

Photo Essay

Exhibition Catalogue A Tale of Two Cities

Impact Press 2001 (ed) Sarah Bodman

ISBN 0 9536076 6 6

Photo Essay

Selection of Artist Book Work Practice Referenced in Publications

‘Code  X: Contemporary Fine Bindings’

Canberra Craft Bookbinders 2017 : Terence Uren

ISBN 978-0-9876211-0-8

‘Unshelfmarked: Reconceiving the artists’ book’

Uniformbooks 2015 Michael Hampton UK

ISBN 978-1-910010-06-8

‘Limp Bindings From The Vatican Library’

Langwe   2013   Monica Langwe Sweden

ISBN 978-91-637-2379-7

‘Creating Artists’ Books’

A&C Black/Watson Guptill 2005 Sarah Bodman UK

ISBN-10: 0713665092

ISBN-13: 978-0713665093

Research Paper/Public Lecture

Presentations

State Library of Queensland

Brisbane, Australia

Siganto Foundation Artists’ Book Lecture 2016

April 2016

 

University of Newcastle NSW, Australia

Public Lecture On Book Arts Practice

June 2016

 

The Society of Bookbinders Conference 2015

Keele University, UK

Conference Presentation on Practice

‘Non-Linear Narrative Page Structures

& Sculptural Book Forms’

2015

 

‘Artists Book Symposium Seminar 2′ 

University Of the West of England, Bristol, UK

Presentation 2009

Winchester School of Art, University of Southampton, UK

‘Artist Talks On Artists Books’ Symposium

Presentation

2007

3rd CLTAD Conference: ‘Enhancing Curricula’, Lisbon, Portugal    

Presentation & Book Making Workshop:   

2006

New York Centre For Book Arts:

Phoenix Gallery: New York, USA

‘Artists Talk on Art: Book Arts’

Panel Speaker

October 2001

Book Arts Critique & Judging

‘Turn the Page Artists’ Book Fair 2012’

Norwich, UK

Member of the Selection Committee

 

‘Displaced: International Book Art Competition & Exhibition 2014’

The Wiener Library for the Study of the Holocaust & Genocide: London, UK

 Judging as a Member of the Selection Committee

Solo Exhibitions

‘Guy Begbie: Bookworks: Unique Artists’ Books’

University Library, University of Portsmouth, UK

25th May – 29th June 2018

‘Guy Begbie – BOOKWORKS’

Artists’ Books Exhibitions in the Bower Ashton Library

cases, UWE, Bristol, UK

2nd July – 31st August 2018

‘Back Room Sounding’ Book-works and A Counterpart Short Film

Middlesex University London UK

15th April – 27th May 2011

 

‘Guy Begbie Video Shorts’ 

Middlesex University London UK

5th October – 9th November 2009

 

‘Guy Begbie Bookworks’   

Middlesex University London UK

11th April – 9th May 2007

 

‘Guy Begbie Architectural Bookworks’

Special Collections, Bower Ashton Campus, UWE, Bristol

July 2003

Group Exhibitions

‘Takesada Matsutani. drop in time, Book Lab, Artists’ Books’ at Hauser & Wirth Somerset, UK, 29 September 2018 – 1 January 2019

Interruptions’ – an exhibition of prints and artists’ books by MAMDP and friends, curated by Sarah Bodman and Elena Zeppou, at the invitation of the Greek Printmakers Association (E.E.X.) for Athens Print Fest “18” 4th edition – nóstos / nostalgia, at the Felios Foundation, Athens, Greece, 3rd – 27th October 2018

‘Manly Library Artists’ Book Award 2017’

Creative Space, North Curl Curl, NSW, Australia    31st March – 2nd April 2017

‘CODE X: Contemporary Fine Bindings’

Craft ACT: Craft and Design Centre,     Canberra, Australia   7th February – 27th March 2017

‘Cover to Cover’

ANU Foyer Gallery School of Art, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia   16th – 28th May 2016

‘Síður í Siglufjörður / Pages in Siglufjörður: Contemporary artists’ books on the coastal environment’

Herhúsið, Iceland   14th – 28th March 2015

‘Page Print Post: 50 Years of Artists Books’

Post Office Gallery, Federation University Australia, Ballarat, Victoria

July –  August

2014

‘Книга Художника / Artist’s Book: Russia / United Kingdom’

The Historical, Architectural, Art and Landscape Museum-Reserve, Tsaritsyno,     Moscow, Russia     March – May 2014

‘Bookart Inspired by the Vatican’

Swedish Institute, Rome, Italy

4th November – 8th November 2013

‘Language To Cover A Wall: Visual Poetry Through Its Changing Media’

UB Art Gallery, The University At Buffalo, The State University of

New York, USA   17th November – 18th February 2012

 

9th International Book Art Festival CORRESPONDENCE 

The Jozef Pilsudski Regional and Municipal Public Library Gdanska, Lodz, Poland

September 21st – 15th October 2012

Poetry Beyond Text: Vision Text and Cognition’

(AHRC/University of Dundee) Royal Scottish Academy, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK

12th November – 18th December 2011

‘Sons of the Sea’

An international book project between Russia and the UK

Special Collections Room at University of the West of England, Bower Ashton Library,

Bristol, UK  16th June – 16th September 2011

The Paper Cooperative’

Spacex Gallery Exeter UK

6th August – 3rd September 2011

‘O Pão Nosso’  An exhibition of international artists’ books, curated by Mara Caruso

Universidade Feevale, Projeto Circular, Novo Hamburgo/RS, Brazil

30th August – 13th September 2011

‘Our Daily Bread’ 

Escuela de Artes de Sevilla Spain

5th July – 5th October 2010

‘The Secret Library of Solihull’

Solihull Gallery, UK

8th March 2010

‘New Wave’

Impact Printmaking Conference, UWE

15th – 19th September 2009

‘Brilliant’

Northern Print, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK

2008

Sitting Room’  

UK/USA /South Africa

2007-2008 touring exhibition

‘International Book Exchange’

University of Tennessee at Chanooga USA / School of Art Media and Design, UWE Bristol, UK

22nd February – 28th March 2004

‘The History Book That Never Was’

Massachusette College of Art Boston USA

2003

‘The Wexford Artist Book Exhibition’

Wexford Arts Centre

Ireland

2003

‘If Pressed’

Sherborne House Dorset UK

2002

‘Imprint’

Ferrens Art Gallery, Hull, UK and Howard Gardens Gallery UWIC Cardiff, Wales

2002

‘A Tale of Two Cities’

Centre For Book Arts, New York, USA 14th September – 28th October 2001

‘Cade 2001’

Glasgow School of Art

Glasgow, Scotland, UK

2001

Artist’s Book Event Participation

MABB 2018, Malmö Artist’s Book Biennial, Malmö, Sweden

20-21 April 2018

Artist Film/Video Short Screenings

Back Room Sounding” (Guy Begbie 2015)

Monitor Video Short

Foyer Gallery, Australian National University, School of Art, Canberra, Australia

16th – 28th May 2016

‘Bookscape’ (Guy Begbie 2015)

First public screening made at The Society of Bookbinders Conference 2015, Keele University, UK during a conference presentation given on Non-Linear Narrative Page Structures & Sculptural Book Forms.

22nd August 2015

‘Orange Rumba’ (Guy Begbie 2012)

First public screening given at ‘The Artists’ Book Market Event’ at BALTIC Cinema, Newcastle, UK in December 2014

The video short ‘Orange Rumba’ is featured as an example of contemporary practice in ‘Unshelfmarked: Reconceiving the artists’ book’: Hampton, Michael: Axminster: Uniformbooks, 2015

 

Awards

‘Manly Library Artists’ Book Award 2017’

Works held in Collections

Artists’ Book Collection

State Library of Queensland

Brisbane, Australia

Manly Library Artists’ Book Collection

Manly, Sydney, NSW, Australia

Bibliotheca Librorum Apud Artificem

Library for the artist’s book

Sydney, NSW, Australia

Artists’ Book Collection

Bower Ashton Art & Design Library

University of the West of England

Bristol, UK

Artists’ Book Collection

Winchester School of Art Library

University of Southampton

Winchester, UK

Neil Crawford Artists’ Book Collection

Typo G, London, UK

Sydney-Derive-Bookwork-Series

‘Sydney Dérive’    Bookwork Series Diptych/Page Spread  (GB 2017)

© 2023 Guy Begbie
All rights reserved – International copyright laws apply to all content – info@guybegbie@live.co.uk