Ed Crumpton
Ed Crumpton
Ed Crumpton

Personal Statement

Edward Crumpton’s practice synthesizes the Post-Impressionists’ interest of the great outdoors and the Land Artists’ approach to travel and materialise work within the land. Walking and engaging in the landscape is a great generator of ideas and Edward communicates these concepts in the form of pictorial diaries. The walking he performs creates a personal historical journey which he interplays natural materials and mark-making techniques into his drawing and paintings.

Edward encompass’ larger, more composed studio-based work that reflects upon the journey and uses his sketchbooks as methodical steps in tracing back the senses and experiences in the landscape. His work analyses the space of the picture and uses colour and layers to produce atmosphere, mood and lighting that can be shown as a captured moment: as if one moves from one scene to the next.

Exhibition Statement

I wake up to my alarm which is instructing me to draw. It is 3am. Fumbling on the ground my hand reaches a pen and I begin to draw. Looking up, a street light gleams into my eyes and for a moment the whole room is filled with an orange glow. I try to collect my thoughts, however sleep deprivation is forcing my eyelids shut - I must paint! I must I must I must. Embrace this feeling and let your hand draw…
what do you see?
-extract from Edward Crumpton’s Diary, 23rd April 2009

Unlocking the mind's eye is difficult and Edward decided to get out of his comfort zone and travel America on a time-driven drawing project. The sketches created were completed every time the hour hand pointed East and West; sequencing with the direct way he travelled across America. At each specified time of the day Edward would draw brief sketches of what he saw as a way of recording the moment. This way of working meant that Edward was able to compose a succession of drawings that ran parallel with the trip and didn’t inhibit the flow of what was taking place.

Edward later relived these timed drawing experiences in his studio to compose fluid, gestural landscapes that represent a sense of place. He remembers the New York lights, the ambience of the skies of Texas, the rivers etching through the Colorado rock and the ancient canyons of Arizona. The places he visited might have only been momentary experiences but his drawings are so personal to the location that it has had a sustained impression on him; something he can engage with and materialise in the studio.

Education:       
Foundation Degree in Art Therapy: Insider Arts, Exeter, UK         (Oct 2009-2010)

BA 1st Class (Honours) in FINE ART: University of Lincoln. Lincoln, UK (Sept 2005-2008)

A LEVEL: A Art, B Geography & D Philosophy: West Buckland School, West Buckland, Devon (Sept 2003-2005)

GCSE: A* Art, A Geography, A Maths, A RS, B English Literature,  B Drama, B Physics, C English Language, C Biology, C Chemistry: West Buckland School, West Buckland, Devon (1992-2003)

Exhibitions:   
2010
OUTLOOK EXHIBITION: West Buckland School, Devon, UK (Nov)
THE GLASS ROOM: Colston Hall, Bristol, UK (Oct)
THE GLASS ROOM: Colston Hall, Bristol UK (Sept)
ACQUIRE ARTS: Battersea, London, UK (Aug)
THE LONG GALLERY: West Buckland School, Devon (June)
ART TREK: The Hay Loft Studio, Devon, UK (June)
OXMARKET GALLERIES: Chichester, West Sussex, UK (April)

2009
ART TREK: Marwood Gardens, Devon, UK (June)
CONTEMPORARY ART FOR CHRISTMAS 2008: Western-Super-Mare, Somerset, UK (Dec)

2008
WEST BUCKLAND 150th EXHIBITION: West Buckland School, Devon, UK (Sept)
THIS IS IT -Final Year Show: Greestone Campus, Lincoln, UK (May)
THE VIKING WAY INSTALLATION:  The Usher Gallery, Lincoln, UK (April)

2007
REMAINS: The Greestone Campus, Lincoln, UK (April)

2006
THE JOLLY BREWER GALLERY: Jolly Brewer, Lincoln, UK (Feb)
OPEN PLAN: Tyler School of Art, Philadelphia, USA (Nov)
NOVEMBER: The Greestone Campus, Lincoln, UK (Nov)
BESIDE THE WAVE: St. John’s Com. Centre, Devon, UK (Sept)
THE CATHEDRAL PROJECT: The Greestone Campus, Lincoln, UK
(Oct)

2005
7 HOURS: Swimbridge Hall, Devon, UK (Sept)

Voluntary
Experience:
WEST BUCKLAND SCHOOL: West Buckland school in Devon (March 2009)
I had a workshop with two year 10 classes showing them techniques with      pen and ink material. I then assisted every week to help them develop their             idea which became part of their final research project.

JACKINABOX: Exhibition of contemporary in Nottinghamshire (April 2008)
Work involved: invidulating in the gallery space, Q&A helper.

BEACON ART PROJECT: Site specific art through Lincolnshire (Oct 2007)
Work involved: helping artist to set up installation, Q&A helper, bus usher.

ESTATE WORKER: Lee Abby, Devon UK (Sep 2006).
Work involved: I volunteered to work in a Christian based community for a week. I held a position on the estate team that focused on the maintenance of trees, grass, paths and the general aesthetic of the grounds. I used various amounts of machines and heavy machinery.

Residency:
CYPRUS COLLEGE OF ART, Summer School, Cyprus (June 2007)
One month in the Cyprus summer school producing drawings and paintings.

Awards:
THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH: Gold Award (Nov 2007)
Award details: The Duke of Edinburgh awards helped me to be self-disciplined in what personal challenges and goals I wanted to achieve. The activities covered Services, Skills, Physical Recreation, Expeditions and a Residential Project.

LAMDA: Gold Certificate (Dec 2005)
Award details: This award developed my public speaking level and expression of clear and coherent diction. I was involved in this scheme throughout my school years, progressing from level one to finishing at Gold standard.

BOYER HOUSE PRIZE: For Art and Design (2005)
Award details: I was awarded the Art prize for commitment and effort in the 6th Form Art program.

Employment:
Care Assistant: Francis House Care Home, Devon, UK (2008–present)
Employment Details: Gardening and Care Worker. I am currently working four days a week managing the garden and grounds of Francis House. I also hold Art Class sessions each week to encourage service user's to draw and paint. The Art Therapy Foundation Course I took helped me to focus in on how painting can help people with mental illness.