BIO
ARTIST STATEMENT
Vanessa works from observation in response to the worlds of ballet, theatre, fashion, and film. Her dynamic drawings brim with excitement and drama and evoke worlds of illusion and make believe, all seen with a keen and empathetic female gaze.
Vanessa Lawrence is a Brighton based artist and educator. Graduate of the Royal Drawing School postgraduate Drawing Development Year 2021-22, In Disguise & The Tour Art Prize Glyndebourne selected artist, with works acquired 2023. VIA Arts Prize 2020 Finalist & FIDA (Fashion Illustration Drawing Award) Finalist 2021, Vanessa is a London Fashion Week invited artist (Paul & Joe Paris), drawing performance with Trinity Laban and Royal Opera House.
Education
2021-2022
1996-1998
1991-1994
1995-1996
Exhibitions
2023-24
2022
2021
2020
Prizes & Awards
2022
2020-22
2020
Workshops & Events
2020-2024
1996 to present.
2020 to present.
Royal Drawing School
University of Brighton
University of Brighton
University of Brighton
The Royal Drawing School is one of only a few institutions in the world offering in-depth, quality tuition in drawing from observation.
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26 Eyes: Drawing Development Year 2021-22 Bermondsey Project Space Exhibition.
MA Fine Art,
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PGCE Art & Design,
BA Fine Art Painting,
Green & Stone, Works on paper. January-February 2024.
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The Fashioned Body: The Trampery, London. 9th December 2023- 12th March 2024.
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Platforms Project, Athens, Greece.
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The Sussex Contemporary: Selected Artist 2023.
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Green & Stone Summer Exhibition: Aerial, pastel on paper, (London)
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Tour Art Prize & In Disguise, Glyndebourne Opera House, Sussex, with three exhibited works acquired by Glyndebourne. The works can be seen via Artuk.com.
26 EYES: Bermondsey Project Space
Graduates of the Drawing Development Year
Royal Drawing School 2021/22
19 - 23 APRIL 2022
https://project-space.london/26-eyes
Show Me Love, Lido Gallery , Margate.
The FIDA x IMM Summer Fashion Arts Exhibition Miami 2021
Life On Venus, Exhibition at The Tub, Hackney, London. Auction by The Auction Collective.
https://theauctioncollective.com/auctions/life-on-venus-ii-the-human-timed-auction/,
VIA Arts Prize Finalist 2020.
I Can’t Breathe, Marcelino Sambé, Nine Stilled Moments, 2020. Charcoal on paper.
The Tour Art Prize; Glyndebourne.
Waverton Art Prize, Long listed.
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FIDA Fashion Illustration Drawing Award (nominated)2022,
Finalist 2021
Finalist 2020,
FIDAxCeline Award 2020: Finalist.
VIA Arts Prize Finalist 2020.
I Can’t Breathe, Marcelino Sambé, Nine Stilled Moments, 2020. Charcoal on paper.
The Comedy Women In Print Prize 2020 @cwipprize As the first lockdown unfolded, my autobiographical, graphic medicine genre, graphic narrative, about my postpartum cancer diagnosis, The C Word, was long-listed by the UKs only comedy novel prize for women, run by celebrated comedienne & author Helen Lederer.
Trinity Laban Dance Project: Drawing live performance and unique choreography for the postgraduate department.
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London Fashion Week: Invited artist.
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Miss England: Invited artist.
Artist & Educator (PGCE) for clients Tate, National Gallery, National Portrait Gallery, Barbican Centre, V&A, English Heritage. Creator of bespoke workshop sessions for community groups for arts festivals and community events, recent projects include Dragon Cafe in the City (Mental Fight Club).
Graphic Narrative Conferences & Events:
Royal Drawing School
Laydeez Do Comics
Graphic Medicine
Comics Activism Feminism Conference,
University Gothenburg, Sweden.
Drawing Lockdown II
Drawing Projects UK
Drawing is Free
Royal Drawing School Alumni Interview
https://www.royaldrawingschool.org/blog/graphic-narratives-bring-drawing-and-text-together/
The Lockdown Lowdown: Graphic Narratives for Viral Times. 1 & 2
Women and Covid, A Gendered Pandemic.
https://distantconnections.co.uk/about-us
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Finding Our Future 2022 (Distant Connections)