Felicity Bristow
- Work
- Biography
Originally trained in Architecture, I gained a BArch and Diploma of Architecture from Edinburgh College of Art and practiced as an Architect in Edinburgh until 2008.
Following a period of further study on the ECA Part-time BA in Art & Design I achieved a MA in Contemporary Art Practice. Since 2012, I have worked independently and in collaboration as an artist and designer from my studio in Melrose, Scottish Borders. My studio practice spans fine art and the applied art of bookbinding and will complete the first part of my fine bookbinding training, supported by The Queen Elizabeth Scholarship Trust (QEST), in June 2025.
At the heart of my practice lies an ongoing inquiry into the book—not only as a vessel for language and narrative, but as a tactile, sculptural form. My artist books often transcend conventional formats, evolving into abstract structures that speak to architectural rhythm, site-specific materiality, and the layered memory of place. Transformation and abstraction are recurring themes: I am particularly interested in the cover or container of a book as a visual archive, holding the environmental, natural, and architectural stories I uncover through my rich source of research-led exploration. Some of my work has also led to performance-based presentations working in short film and on durational movement pieces in collaboration with movement practitioners.
Process-based and experimental, my work incorporates traditional craft disciplines such as fine bookbinding and printmaking, alongside photography and large-scale paper chromatography.
Following a period of further study on the ECA Part-time BA in Art & Design I achieved a MA in Contemporary Art Practice. Since 2012, I have worked independently and in collaboration as an artist and designer from my studio in Melrose, Scottish Borders. My studio practice spans fine art and the applied art of bookbinding and will complete the first part of my fine bookbinding training, supported by The Queen Elizabeth Scholarship Trust (QEST), in June 2025.
At the heart of my practice lies an ongoing inquiry into the book—not only as a vessel for language and narrative, but as a tactile, sculptural form. My artist books often transcend conventional formats, evolving into abstract structures that speak to architectural rhythm, site-specific materiality, and the layered memory of place. Transformation and abstraction are recurring themes: I am particularly interested in the cover or container of a book as a visual archive, holding the environmental, natural, and architectural stories I uncover through my rich source of research-led exploration. Some of my work has also led to performance-based presentations working in short film and on durational movement pieces in collaboration with movement practitioners.
Process-based and experimental, my work incorporates traditional craft disciplines such as fine bookbinding and printmaking, alongside photography and large-scale paper chromatography.
Education |
City Guilds Certificate in D&C | Bookbinding | Level 1 (2024 – current)
MA Contemporary Art Practice (Merit), ECA, Edinburgh University (2015 – 2016)
C of HE in Art & Design, ECA, Edinburgh University (2016)
BA in Art & Design (Part-time) 200 credits, ECA, Edinburgh University (2007 – 2015)
Dip Arch, & Part 3 Examination in Professional Practice, ECA, Edinburgh University (1998 - 2001)
BArch (Hons) 2:1 ECA, Heriot Watt University, Edinburgh (1993 - 1998)
Recent Exhibitions (Including upcoming) |
Making History Exhibition | ‘Roots + Crowns’ at the Signal Tower Museum, Arbroath (Aug 2025 – Nov 2025)
Borders Art Fair, Kelso (2025)
QEST Paper Exhibition, The Hub, Sleaford (2024)
SE Scotland Printmakers & Book Artists Group Exhibition, Melrose (2024)
Visual Arts Scotland Annual Exhibition, ‘REVERB’, Edinburgh (online) (2022)
BABE 2021 Online Exhibition of Artist Book Films curated by UWE (‘erosions + accumulations’) (2021)
VAS & SFMA Online Exhibition – ‘Adapt/ Adjust’ Showcase for artists & makers (2021)
SSA Online Exhibition – ‘Urban Departures’ curated by Art North | Project Room 2020 (2020)
‘Tools for Survival’ (collaboration with Jenny Pope & Liz Douglas), The Scott Gallery, Hawick (2019 - 2020)
Visual Arts Scotland/ SSA Annual Exhibition, ‘OPEN 2’, Edinburgh (2019)
OPEN Call Exhibition, Process Gallery, Sandway, Sandway Rd, Lenham, Maidstone (2019)
Batch:2 (curated by Claire Pencak), Commissioned Process Exhibition, The Bakery, Jedburgh (2019)
National Centre for Craft & Design Exhibition, with bound : unbound Collective, Sleaford (2019)
‘Tools for Survival’ (collaboration with Jenny Pope & Liz Douglas), The Briggait, Glasgow (2019)
Art Walk Porty & ‘Pleasurelands’ Exhibition (collaboration with Susie Wilson), Edinburgh (2018)
Upright Gallery Exhibition, ‘Up on the mountain & down by the river’ (with Susie Leiper), Edinburgh (2018)
Visual Arts Scotland/ SSA
City Guilds Certificate in D&C | Bookbinding | Level 1 (2024 – current)
MA Contemporary Art Practice (Merit), ECA, Edinburgh University (2015 – 2016)
C of HE in Art & Design, ECA, Edinburgh University (2016)
BA in Art & Design (Part-time) 200 credits, ECA, Edinburgh University (2007 – 2015)
Dip Arch, & Part 3 Examination in Professional Practice, ECA, Edinburgh University (1998 - 2001)
BArch (Hons) 2:1 ECA, Heriot Watt University, Edinburgh (1993 - 1998)
Recent Exhibitions (Including upcoming) |
Making History Exhibition | ‘Roots + Crowns’ at the Signal Tower Museum, Arbroath (Aug 2025 – Nov 2025)
Borders Art Fair, Kelso (2025)
QEST Paper Exhibition, The Hub, Sleaford (2024)
SE Scotland Printmakers & Book Artists Group Exhibition, Melrose (2024)
Visual Arts Scotland Annual Exhibition, ‘REVERB’, Edinburgh (online) (2022)
BABE 2021 Online Exhibition of Artist Book Films curated by UWE (‘erosions + accumulations’) (2021)
VAS & SFMA Online Exhibition – ‘Adapt/ Adjust’ Showcase for artists & makers (2021)
SSA Online Exhibition – ‘Urban Departures’ curated by Art North | Project Room 2020 (2020)
‘Tools for Survival’ (collaboration with Jenny Pope & Liz Douglas), The Scott Gallery, Hawick (2019 - 2020)
Visual Arts Scotland/ SSA Annual Exhibition, ‘OPEN 2’, Edinburgh (2019)
OPEN Call Exhibition, Process Gallery, Sandway, Sandway Rd, Lenham, Maidstone (2019)
Batch:2 (curated by Claire Pencak), Commissioned Process Exhibition, The Bakery, Jedburgh (2019)
National Centre for Craft & Design Exhibition, with bound : unbound Collective, Sleaford (2019)
‘Tools for Survival’ (collaboration with Jenny Pope & Liz Douglas), The Briggait, Glasgow (2019)
Art Walk Porty & ‘Pleasurelands’ Exhibition (collaboration with Susie Wilson), Edinburgh (2018)
Upright Gallery Exhibition, ‘Up on the mountain & down by the river’ (with Susie Leiper), Edinburgh (2018)
Visual Arts Scotland/ SSA
Collections
- 2018
- Felicity Bristow
- 2020
- Felicity Bristow
- Artist Books
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