Carl Chapple: Wales
Originally from Dartmoor in the southwest of England (b.1968), after studying painting at St Martin’s School of Art, London, Carl lived and worked abroad for a number of years, including time in Greece, Turkey, the Czech Republic and Italy, where he drew a great deal and developed further his interest in Classical and Renaissance painting and sculpture.
Returning to the UK in the mid-90s, Carl joined several South London life drawing groups, and began working almost exclusively from the figure. Since moving to South Wales in 2003, he has continued to work from life, initially from the nude, though from around 2012 focusing more on portraiture - working with musicians, actors, comedians and other stage performers. In 2016 Carl began collaborating with dancers, drawing on his background in both portraiture and figure painting, and for the first time concerning himself with movement.
As artist in residence with Ballet Cymru, he has been working with dancers in theatres, rehearsal studios and in his painting studio since 2017. During 2021 and 2022 Carl collaborated with dancers across the UK and Europe via Zoom and video-sharing, creating a series of full-figure portraits exploring and responding to experiences of lockdown.
Returning to the UK in the mid-90s, Carl joined several South London life drawing groups, and began working almost exclusively from the figure. Since moving to South Wales in 2003, he has continued to work from life, initially from the nude, though from around 2012 focusing more on portraiture - working with musicians, actors, comedians and other stage performers. In 2016 Carl began collaborating with dancers, drawing on his background in both portraiture and figure painting, and for the first time concerning himself with movement.
As artist in residence with Ballet Cymru, he has been working with dancers in theatres, rehearsal studios and in his painting studio since 2017. During 2021 and 2022 Carl collaborated with dancers across the UK and Europe via Zoom and video-sharing, creating a series of full-figure portraits exploring and responding to experiences of lockdown.
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FRONTOFBICYCLE EXHIBITIONS 2018 - 2022
C.V - OPEN TO VIEW
Selected Solo Exhibitions
2021 - Ffin y Parc Gallery, Conwy 2020 - Albany Gallery, Cardiff 2019 - Painting Dance, Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff 2019 - Painting Dance, Ffin y Parc Gallery, Conwy 2018 - A Thousand Words, Waterstones, Bloomsbury, London 2018 - Ffin y Parc Gallery, Conwy 2017 - Well Thumbed, Whitespace Gallery, Edinburgh 2017 - Ffin y Parc Gallery, Conwy 2015 - Sŵn Festival, Abacus, Cardiff 2015 - Portraits, Waterloo Gardens, Penarth and Cardiff 2014 - Portraits of Performers, Riverfront Arts Centre, Newport 2014 - Portraits of Performers, Penarth Pier Pavilion, Penarth 2014 - Portraits of Performers, Museum of Modern Art Cymru, Machynlleth 2014 - Green Man Performers, Hwyl, Cecil Sharpe House, London 2012 - Portraits of Musicians, locations across Cardiff, Sŵn Festival Fringe 2011 - Portraits and Nudes, Waterloo Gardens Teahouse, Cardiff 2011 - Recent Portraits, Oriel Celfi, Swansea 2010 - Paintings from Life, Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff 2008 - Denise Yapp Contemporary Art, Monmouth 2007 - Museum of Modern Art Cymru, Machynlleth 2007 - Twelve Paintings, The Senedd, Cardiff Selected Group Exhibitions 2017-21 - Ffin y Parc Gallery, Conwy 2021 - Discerning Eye, Mall Galleries, London 2020 - Discerning Eye, Mall Galleries, London (winner Chair’s Purchase Prize) 2017-21 - Royal Cambrian Academy, Conwy 2018/19 - frontofbicycle, Basel, Switzerland 2017/18 - Kooywood Gallery, Cardiff 2017 - Museum of Modern Art Cymru, Machynlleth 2016 - FreeHaus, Llandudno (residency exhibition) 2009/10/16 - Denise Yapp Contemporary Art, Monmouthshire 2014/15 - Abacus Gallery, Cardiff 2015 - Royal Society of Portrait Painters, Mall Galleries, London 2006/11/12/13 - Welsh Artist of the Year exhibition, St David’s Hall, Cardiff 2007/10/11 - The Albany Gallery, Cardiff 2011 - BigLittleCity, The Old Library, Cardiff 2010 - Attic Gallery, Swansea 2010 - The Dairy, Cardiff 2006 - Oriel Tri, Penarth 2003 - Llewellyn Alexander Gallery, London 2002 - Discerning Eye, Mall Galleries, London 2000 - Blenheim Studios, London 1992 - Art Parcels, Frost and Reed Gallery, London Residencies & Representation Member of the Royal Cambrian Academy Represented by Ffin y Parc Gallery, Conwy 2018 - present International Guest Artist in Residence, frontofbicycle Gallery, Basel 2017 - present Artist in residence, Ballet Cymru 2016 - Associate, Culture Action Llandudno - FreeHaus project, Llandudno |