OVERVIEW
Ashley West was born in 1953 in Kettering, Northamptonshire, and graduated in Fine Art at Leicester Polytechnic in 1978. In 2007 he was awarded an MA with Distinction from Wimbledon School of Art. He lives and has a studio in Borehamwood, Hertfordshire. After almost 30 years as Head of Art at Queen Elizabeth’s Boys School in Barnet, he gave up teaching and acquired a retreat with a large studio in France. This has now become a residential project and gallery space called ‘Sol Space’.
His early work was influenced by the automatism and lyricism of painters such as Alan Davie, Graham Sutherland and Peter Lanyon, while at Leicester he became interested in the colour fields and grids employed in the more constructivist and minimalist approaches of Mondrian, Barnett Newman and Agnes Martin. Between 1995 and 2005 his work explored the relationship between these two processes - the automatic, and the measured, and he acknowledges Richard Diebenkorn as the most profound influence on his work during this period. Recent work reflects an interest in non-rectilinear compositions incorporating curvilinear and elliptical forms.
BIOGRAPHY
2021 Curated inaugural show ‘The Land of Sol’ at Sol Space, France.
2020 Launched Art Retreat in France using name from discontinued Sol Space group.
2018 Acquired a property with studio in Limousin, France.
2017 Retired from teaching.
2012 Set up ‘Sol Space’ to explore the question of ‘Integrity’ in abstract painting.
2007 Awarded MA with Distinction in Fine Art (Painting) at Wimbledon School of Art.
1995 Artist in Residence, Slade School of Fine Art Summer School.
1992 Became Head of Art and Design at Queen Elizabeth’s School.
1988 Began teaching at Queen Elizabeth’s Boys’ School in Barnet.
1987-88 Completed a Post Graduate Course in Education.
1987 Moved to Borehamwood, Hertfordshire.
1975-78 Studied Fine Art at Leicester Polytechnic.
1972-73 Completed a Foundation Course in Art at Kettering Technical College.
1953 Born in Kettering, Northamptonshire.
EXHIBITIONS
2021 Curated and participated in ‘The Land of Sol’ group show at Sol Space, Nouic, France.
2018 ‘A Road Not Taken’. Curated by Terry Greene and Stephen Buckeridge. The Crypt, London.
2015 Curated ‘A Conference of Birds’ group show at I’Eklectik Artspace, London.
2012 ‘Ground Control’ group show in association with Abstraktion.org, Elements Art Space, Bath.
2010 Gallery 242, Shoreditch, London. Two person show with Stephen Buckeridge
2009 Queen Elizabeth's Gallery, Barnet. Solo show.
2007 'Currents', Trinity Buoy Wharf, Docklands, London. MA group show.
Creekside Open, APT Gallery, London.
Sherborne Open, Dorset
Wimbledon College of Art, MA Show
2006 'Working Drawings' Centre for Research into Drawing, Wimbledon School of Art
'Base', Trinity Buoy Wharf, Docklands, London
Deutsche Postbank, London
Celeste Art Prize, Truman's Brewery, London
2005 'Showcase 2005', Gallery@One0Two, Shoreditch, London
Hunting Art Prize Exhibition, Royal College of Art
2004 Plumbline Gallery, St.Ives. Group show.
Gallery@One0Two, Shoreditch, London. Three person show.
2003 Salthouse Gallery, St Ives, Solo show.
1998 Leonardo Centre, Uppingham School. Solo show.
1997 Queen Elizabeth's Gallery, Barnet. Solo show.
1996 Malvern Arts Workshop. Solo show.
1995 Slade School of Fine Art, Pearson’s Gallery, London. Solo show
Salthouse Gallery, St Ives. Solo show.
1994 St Austell Arts Centre. Solo show.
1994 Queen Elizabeth's Gallery, Barnet. Two person show with Stephen Buckeridge.
1990 Jersey Arts Centre Open.
1979 Alfred East Art Gallery, Kettering. Solo show.
1978 Leicester Polytechnic Degree show.