Having a break

We will be having a break while building work continues at MerseyBIO. But I am hoping this will increase the amount of space we have available to add artwork to adorn the walls.

In the mean time to satisfy any artistic needs feel free to join myself for "de-junk, re-junk"in Birkenhead Park for a project I have been working on with Wirral Council. The artwork has been created from junk, including my old kitchen that I have donated to local artists including Linda Mary Evans who showed in the recent Landscape show to recreate using their skills into something of value.

The exhibition will be in the visitors centre in Birkenhead Park from 18th to 31st of July.

Landscape - a private tour

I would like to invite you to a special private tour of our current exhibition at MerseyBio with 3 of the artists on Monday the 23rd of May at 10am. We will meet at the nearby Victoria Gallery and Museum on the University campus and progress to MerseyBIO at 10.30 (after a coffee in the lovely cafe of the Victoria Gallery). Our show ends on the 25th of May and is normally closed to the public so this is a rare opportunity to see the space and the artwork on display. It would be possible for late-comers to join us directly at MerseyBIO at 10.30am also.

MerseyBIO

Crown Street, Liverpool, United Kingdom L69 7ZB

T +44 (0) 151 795 4100 F +44 (0) 151 795 4101
E info@2bio.co.uk

Currently, we have on display a beautiful range of work from 4 local artists representing the landscape in painting, drawing and woodturning in MerseyBIO. With the corridors adorned with images of North Wales, Cheshire and Liverpool and turned bowls made from wood from local parks and gardens in three cabinets, it feels fresh and colourful in the grey walls of the building. Mike Rule, Phil Dowling and Linda Evans will be in attendance to discuss their work. Sadly, Rowena Fergusson is unable to join us to represent her work for this visit.

Please RSVP to alison.roberts@2bio.co.uk or register via Eventbrite.

"Landscape" opened on the 13th of April

Here are the images from the opening shared on facebook, click here (link)

Opening Night at Complementary Colours

From Complementary Colours

Click above to go to more images from the opening

Successful opening at MerseyBIO

2Bio Hosts 'Complementary Colours' Art Exhibition in MerseyBIO Incuabtor, Liverpool

Click on title of posting for whole article

Last night hosted their first art exhibition opening event of 2011 entitled ‘Complementary Colours’ with work from Dr Patrick Druggan and Christine Toh on display in the MerseyBIO Incubator in Liverpool.

The exhibition is part of an ongoing programme called ‘art@ the incubator’ which showcases the work of local artists, students and school children from within and around the Liverpool region.

Dr Patrick Druggan is Director of R&D for Provexis Plc based in MerseyBIO, who specialise in the discovery, development and licensing of functional food, medical food and dietary supplement technologies.

The images in the exhibition were captured twenty years ago when Patrick first worked in diagnostic microbiology and was investigating impurities in crystal violet.

Christine Toh trained in France as a biochemist and became captivated by colours when she started printing in 1992 and has not stopped playing with colours ever since on paper and fabric. She obtained a First class honours degree in 2008 in Fashion and Textile Design from John Moores University in Liverpool.

Christine is establishing her practice as an innovative textile artist working from her studio at The Bluecoat in central Liverpool. Her work takes inspiration from nature, landscapes and the urban environment and has its roots in the idea of memories.

art @ the incubator is co-ordinated by Alison Roberts, Art Liaison Officer of 2Bio Ltd, who has many years’ experience in the creative industries arena and curating shows locally, nationally and internationally.

Commenting on the programme so far, Alison said “Since October 2008 I have had the pleasure of being art liaison officer for 2Bio Ltd, with the role of co-ordinating the exhibitions within the Incubator. This is the first exhibition where an exhibitor has come from one of the companies housed within the building.

“UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation) has declared that the next 12 months will be the Year of Chemistry, so I am delighted that our inaugural exhibition for 2011 will combine Patrick’s microscope images with Christine’s layered textile work in exploration of colour and dyes.”

To arrange to view the exhibition by appointment, or to register your interest in exhibiting at or attending future events, contact Alison Roberts at alison.roberts@2bio.co.uk.

‘Complementary Colours’ will run until 23rd March 2011

The Twelve working days til Christmas

Janice Thorn- mosaics, Theresia Cadwallader- bead jewellery and Nathan Pendlebury

The show is on until the 20th of January, email alison.roberts@2bio.co.uk to visit, with many Christmas gift ideas from local artists and contemporary craftspeople.

Artwork coming in

We have books from Stephanie de Leng, 15 photos from Michael Burns, lots of photos from Roger Sinek and Nathan Pendulbury, 4 prints from Joel Bird, 1 giclee print from Claire McCarthy, lots of works by Susan Meyerhoof Sharples including Christmas trees, Prints and cards from Freida McKitrick, watercolour/ink drawings from Jane Hughes, mosaics from Janice Thorn, 4 framed photos taken this weekend by Sebastian Cowden, prints of Chris Millichamp's watercolours, jewellery from Alison Bailey Smith and Theresia Cadwallader....and more!

Susan Meyerhoff Sharples

Susan Meyerhoff Sharples’ an international artist is based at Elevator studios Liverpool, was born and educated in the Merseyside area gaining a first class honours degree in Fine Art from John Moores University, Liverpool. In 2004 she was awarded a Fellowship from Wirral Art School.

Her work is concerned with evolution, provocative defence systems and the primal instinct for survival achieved via diversity and adaptation. Repetition is a constant element in the work: repetition within diversity and diversity within repetition.

She creates hybrid sculptural forms exposing a glimpse of evolutionary fantasy, suggesting relationships between ancient organisms and their modern descendants. Their ambiguity reflects cultural, social and environmental concerns of identity, protection, genetic engineering and global warming. Viewed from a playful perspective, they transform a materials utilitarian functionality into mythical forms linking prehistoric with futuristic.

Recent work, Cultural Crossing Series has been supported by World Museum, Bluecoat Liverpool, Atelierhaus Salzamt Austria, Ars Electronica Austria, Maerz Kunstlervereinigung, Austria, Sinebrychoff Gallery, Finland.

Exhibitions, commissions and collections include: America, UK, Eire, Canada, Spain, Austria and Israel.
Larger outdoor sculptures can be seen at:
Lancelyn Green Sculpture Garden, Poulton Hall Wirral.
The Woman’s Hospital, Liverpool.
The Leonardo Centre, Neston, Wirral.
South Wirral High School. Wirral.
Hope University, Liverpool.
Mount Pleasant Gardens, Cheshire.

BA Hons Fine Art
www.susanmeyerhoffsharples.com

Christine O'Reilly Wilson: About here

"The Language of Colour

Painting Colour has been my chosen method of artistic self expression for the last ten years or so. Through the language of abstract colour combinations I attempt to evoke a glimpse of past experience. Using translucent paint is a means of allowing the colour to build in intensity while also allowing the previous mark-making to be seen.Working on a large scale allows me to become absorbed into the colour and generates an intuitive response allowing further creative development.

Printmaking formed a large part of my working process throughout my years at University but I never had the same enthusiasm when leaving the easy access to a printing press, upon graduating. Working mostly upon canvas, painting in acrylics employs many aspects of the printing process.

I will pour, splash, sponge and imprint colour onto the surface. Paint is applied to the surface of the canvas and can be scraped, scoured, sponged, wiped away or applied in thick opaque areas to cover over the previous painting. Colour intensity develops within the translucent layers.

With colour I am attempting to convey my own experience of humanity. Using the confines of the stretched canvas as the rigid boundary of my expression I concern myself with colour and the structure of a balanced composition. Over several layers the colour develops intensity and allows me to become absorbed into the colour.

Christine O’Reilly Wilson
2010

Wendy Williams

Wendy Williams: About here at MerseyBIO

Wendy Williams studied Fine Art in Birmingham and took additional further studies later on in Liverpool, in both Community Arts and Interior design.

She has won several awards for her work and has been involved in artist exchange programmes in the UK, Europe and America.

The mixed areas of study has enabled her work to evolve and adapt from the painterly order of earlier years, to the more recent combinations of mixed media.

A concern for the environment has been the basis for this recent body of work. Working primarily with recycled materials, she uses plastic as a tool to convey the relationship between our own existence in the use of these materials with their or our follow on journey after disposal.

'A Means of Travel' was one of the works shown recently in the Independent Biennial exhibition 'about Here', at The Gallery, Liverpool. It is one of many pieces in which wings have been used to convey this personal journey.

It not only follows the literal interpretation of the Biennial integral theme of 'Touched', but conveys a sense of being 'moved' by the destructive elements of pollution.

Alex Corina - Collectibles

The collectable ware in the cabinet in the kitchen is made of bone china and features Alex Corina's Mona Lennon and 3 graces. The pieces are decorated by hand using printed ceramic transfers, hand finished then fired to 800 degrees. The picture here was taken in Alex's studio in Garston.

When our exhibition is finished the mugs and placques can be purchased through this site http://www.liverpoolshop.com/blog/new-liverpool-art-mug-collection-october-2009

Alex's show will be finishing on the 14th of July so enjoy the artwork in the incubator while it is still there. We will be having a break from exhibitions for the summer while we resolve the issue of the lack of natural light due to the building work next door.

Opening night for Life in Paper

Great turn out from Julie's supporters

Stephanie de Leng in group show that opens on Friday

The Gallery Liverpool is situated in the Baltic Triangle District of the city, offering an exciting new venue which promotes a range of creative approaches, be it contemprary or traditional. It seeks to showcase and actively promote “ home-grown “ artists of all disciplines.

The gallery has been refurbished to retain the integrity of the buildings industrial heritage, occupies the entire first floor offering a large versatile space of 3000 sq ft which can be used for a multitude of events.

They are hosting a mixed photographic exhibition from the 13th March – 3rd April 2010 displaying a wide, diverse collection of works by locally acclaimed photographers. All works will be for sale

Private view 12th March 7 – 9.30pm

Francesco Mellina
Stephanie de Leng
Mark McNulty
Jim Connolly
Mary Fitzpatrick
Ken Lewis
Charlie Charlton
Charlotte Bird
Jen Allanson
Jan Rogerson
John Grieve
Claire Freeman

Opening Monday – Saturday 10.30am – 4.30pm. Free admission and parking available. For further details on our venue and future events please call 0151 709 2442 or email arts@thegalleryliverpool.co.uk web; www.thegalleryliverpool.co.uk

First floor, 41 Stanhope St, Liverpool L8 5RE

Liverpool Daily Post article

The art in the incubator's current exhibition at MerseyBIO is featured in today's Liverpool Daily Post.

Image by Stephanie de Leng of Dr Rhys Roberts of 2Bio Ltd and Stephanie de Leng with her portrait in the background of local roofer,Eddie. Each of the images in the exhibition include a description of the person behind the image.

"– Eddie Woodchuck, Roofer
His face never fails to cause a reaction. Of all the people in this book, Eddie is the most talked about. In a different life he would have been a successful actor. But as it is, he is a roofer, a damn good one, and what’s more, he is not afraid of risky situations.
In circa 1998 there were some heavy storms in the North and we had quite a number of tiles blow off the roof. Worse, others were on the verge of falling, and I was worried that someone might get hurt. It was a Sunday. I called our then roofing company, Renown Roofing. We don’t do Sundays, the boss said. He had just collected £3000 from me one month before. I explained that the situation was dangerous. He hung up.
So Eddie entered the scene. He does Sundays, when it is important. He gets right in there and does what needs to be done. Even in winds. And if the wind is blowing, and his roll-up goes out, he re-lights it with his blowtorch. I witnessed this through the skylight and two years later asked Eddie to repeat this for the camera. He was a bit perplexed so I added that I needed some roof work done. He came and cleaned out my gutters, and then stood in the garden with his blowtorch and roll ups and I took a few pictures. He was still perplexed. When he saw the results, nothing was clearer, but he accepted a photo (it was free) all the same. His wife took one look at it and said he would not get any women looking like that. No way was she going to put that photo on the wall.
That was a few years ago and I think they may be beginning to come around to my way of looking at things now. " Stephanie de Leng

Happy Christmas from all the team at 2Bio Ltd

We are proud to support local artist Freida McKitrick by chosing her work for our Christmas card this year.

A Place Worth Living by Anthony and Nathan Pendlebury coming soon

Our next exhibition will be A Place Worth Living
by Father and Son
Anthony and Nathan Pendlebury
From the 9th of October until the 18th of November

Nathan studied Fine Art at Warrington Collegiate Institute and Liverpool John Moores University. He grew up in the North-West of England in Chester, Salford, Manchester, and Warrington. Nathan now lives and has a studio space in Bootle (near to Liverpool City Centre, UK), he has won acclaim for both his painting and photography being selected to show in the 2007 International Chelsea Fine Art Competition in New York, as well as being a Prizewinner for the 2007 and 2008 National Wirral Open Exhibitions, and was shortlisted for a prize in the 2007 Sefton Open. Nathan currently also has paintings on show at the Liverpool John Lewis Espresso Bar. He had this to say about his art: "My painting, drawing and photography looks toward the presence of man within an urban and suburban environment, without necessarily being direct in figurative terms."

Anthony Pendlebury studied art in the 60's at Bolton Art School, near to where he grew up in Salford/Manchester. Since then he has worked in and around the North West in various non-art related positions. He is now retired and based in Cumbria, The Lake District. Tony had this to say about his art:"I am primarily concerned with producing original paintings on canvas and paper. My paintings look toward the human condition taking influences from the likes of Pasmore, Miro, Picasso, and Corazon. I don't like to stand still with my painting and am always striving toward new things to do and experiment with in my image making. I hope that my paintings offer texture, mood, and a sense of aesthetic through graphic mark making. I try to make my ever growing portfolio diverse, and the work I produce can vary from one piece to the next."

Roger Sinek and Louise Waller

The joint opening for Louise and Roger's exhibition on Thursday went very well, with fantastic light streaming in to the incubator

Characters in the Search of Science opening

Our latest opening for the current exhibition Characters in the Search of Science