About

Red Studio Enquiry – Claudia Böse, Hayley Field and Jacqueline Utley

We are three artists currently working on a research and development project named the Red Studio Enquiry which focuses on the work of painter Mary Potter (1900-1981). We came across a reference to Mary’s work during research for a past collaborative project and we were all struck by the work’s relevance to contemporary painting practice. Although she had significant success during her lifetime and is represented in many national collections, she is lesser known now.

We spent four weeks in residence (March – April 2017) at the Red Studio, Mary Potter’s former home and studio situated in the grounds of the Red House, Aldeburgh. We were the first artists in residence there, giving us the unique opportunity to develop work and ideas from another artist’s working environment. We conducted practice based research alongside developing  ongoing discussion / conversation with a focus on gender, place and the domestic.

A discussion event is planned for 23 September, 2017 at Christchurch Mansion, Ipswich more details coming soon.

We are delighted to have been awarded Arts Council England funding to support this period of research and development.

Obscure Secure 2014 / 15

Obscure Secure uncovered work by twentieth century women artists from the Ipswich Borough Council collection and exhibited it together with paintings by three contemporary artists. An exhibtion and programme of talks took place at Christchurch Mansion, Soane Street, Wolsey Art Gallery, Ipswich ( September 2014- January 2015).

Through a process of exploration and research, Claudia Böse, Hayley Field and Jacqueline Utley selected work from the collection and created new work in response.

Artists selected from the collection: Anna Airy,  Prunella Clough, E M Every, Lucy Harwood, Helen Kiddall, Beatrice Lithiby, Peggy Somerville, Effie Spring-Smith,  Blanche Vulliamy, Kathleen Walne, Connie Winn.

The project was supported by Colchester and Ipswich Museum Art Curator Emma Roodhouse and Arts Council England.

A programme of talks at Christchurch Mansion explored ideas developed during the project. (Please see Events/talks page for more details and transcriptions).

 Note: Obscure Secure title is taken from The Hawstead Panels, probably painted by Lady Drury, c.1610

Obscure Secure

Studio1.1, London took place 26 February – 1 March 2015.

Obscure Secure at Studio.1.1 saw a reconfiguration of the Ipswich exhibition. Works made in response by the three artists were shown alongside documentation of the selected work from the museum collection. A discussion event led by artist and writer Stephanie Moran reflected on the learning from the project.

With Kind support from Arts Council England.