Simon Rivett
- Work
- Biography
I trained at Goldsmiths College in London and gained a BA (Honours) in Fine Art in 1984. In the years since graduating my practice has primarily concentrated on painting landscapes. My early paintings focused on making images documenting the declining industrial landscape of my birthplace in Newcastle-upon-Tyne. In 1993, after a few years in Edinburgh I began living and working in the Outer Hebrides on the island of Lewis. For twenty-five years I explored the unique rural landscape of the Outer Hebrides; I also made trips to Iceland, the west coast of the Scottish mainland and Northumberland. My subjects, whether painting mountains in Iceland, the peaty moorland of Lewis, or the gentle hills of the Borders and Northumberland, tended to look for strong light and shapes to make strong, dramatic compositions.
In 2017 I moved back to the mainland and the city of Edinburgh, and as a result I began a completely new body of work. The first of my new paintings were made in the Borders and focused on line and shape, contrasting the farmed land with the hills that separate Scotland and England. These works have evolved from previous, less dramatically lit, landscapes, pushing forward with stronger use of line and shape.
My next collection of new works then took this developing structured approach and applied it to the cityscapes of Edinburgh. My use of colour was also bolder.
In 2024 I undertook to make a collection of paintings that told stories of the visitors and residents of
In 2017 I moved back to the mainland and the city of Edinburgh, and as a result I began a completely new body of work. The first of my new paintings were made in the Borders and focused on line and shape, contrasting the farmed land with the hills that separate Scotland and England. These works have evolved from previous, less dramatically lit, landscapes, pushing forward with stronger use of line and shape.
My next collection of new works then took this developing structured approach and applied it to the cityscapes of Edinburgh. My use of colour was also bolder.
In 2024 I undertook to make a collection of paintings that told stories of the visitors and residents of
PERSONAL INFORMATION Born in Corbridge, Northumberland.
EDUCATION 1979-1980 Foundation Course, Central School of Art & Design, London. 1981-1984 BA (Hons) Fine Art, University of London, Goldsmiths College.
AWARDS RECEIVED 1984-1985 Artist in Residence, Bedlington, Northumberland. 2013, 2016 Creative Scotland Award to work in Akureyri, Iceland
SOLO EXHIBITIONS 1985 Camois Gallery, Morpeth, Northumberland. 1985 1985 1985 1986 1998 Mid-Nothumberland Traveling exhibition. Queens Hall Arts Centre, Hexham, Northumberland. Washington Arts Centre, Tyne & Wear. Bondgate Gallery, Alnwick. Woodbine Cottage Gallery, Spalding, Lincolnshire. 2000-2013 Morven Gallery, Isle of Lewis 2011 ‘Sea Road’ The Airt Gallery, Aberdeen 2016 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2024 2024 ‘Northern Exposure’, Doubtfire Gallery, Edinburgh ‘Home, Land, Rhythm’ Doubtfire Gallery, Edinburgh ‘Borderlands – Ongoing Work’ Edinburgh Palette. Quiet City – Doubtfire Gallery Waking City – Doubtfire Galllery A Sense of City – Doubfire Gallery Postcards from Edinburgh - Edinburgh Palette Postcards from Edinburgh – Doubtfire Gallery
GROUP EXHIBITIONS 1983, 1984 Stowells Trophey, Royal Academy, London 1984 Tom Allen Centre, Stratford, London 1984 1985 1995 1996 Christie’s Inaugral, London Northern Printmakers, Cleveland Gallery, Middlesborough. Ramsgate Library Gallery, Ramsgate, Kent. Island Artists exhibition, Crawford Arts Centre, St Andrews. 1996 The Leith Gallery, Edinburgh. 1996-1998 The Clayton Gallery, Jesmond, Newcastle-upon-Tyne. 1996 Frames Gallery, Perth. 1997 1998 2000 The Journal Art Competition, University Gallery, Newcastle. Bircham Contempory Arts, Norfolk. Bluebell Gallery, Newcastle-upon-Tyne. 2000, 2001 Nexus Galleries, Edinburgh. 2000, 2002 Field Dalling Gallery, Norfolk. 2000, 2001 Riverside Gallery, Stonehaven. 2001 Nancy Poole’s Studio Gallery, Toronto 2002 Rowan Gallery, Drymen 2002, 2005 Castle Gallery, Inverness 2003, 2008 Affordable Arts Fair, London 2003 Glasgow Arts Fair
EDUCATION 1979-1980 Foundation Course, Central School of Art & Design, London. 1981-1984 BA (Hons) Fine Art, University of London, Goldsmiths College.
AWARDS RECEIVED 1984-1985 Artist in Residence, Bedlington, Northumberland. 2013, 2016 Creative Scotland Award to work in Akureyri, Iceland
SOLO EXHIBITIONS 1985 Camois Gallery, Morpeth, Northumberland. 1985 1985 1985 1986 1998 Mid-Nothumberland Traveling exhibition. Queens Hall Arts Centre, Hexham, Northumberland. Washington Arts Centre, Tyne & Wear. Bondgate Gallery, Alnwick. Woodbine Cottage Gallery, Spalding, Lincolnshire. 2000-2013 Morven Gallery, Isle of Lewis 2011 ‘Sea Road’ The Airt Gallery, Aberdeen 2016 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2024 2024 ‘Northern Exposure’, Doubtfire Gallery, Edinburgh ‘Home, Land, Rhythm’ Doubtfire Gallery, Edinburgh ‘Borderlands – Ongoing Work’ Edinburgh Palette. Quiet City – Doubtfire Gallery Waking City – Doubtfire Galllery A Sense of City – Doubfire Gallery Postcards from Edinburgh - Edinburgh Palette Postcards from Edinburgh – Doubtfire Gallery
GROUP EXHIBITIONS 1983, 1984 Stowells Trophey, Royal Academy, London 1984 Tom Allen Centre, Stratford, London 1984 1985 1995 1996 Christie’s Inaugral, London Northern Printmakers, Cleveland Gallery, Middlesborough. Ramsgate Library Gallery, Ramsgate, Kent. Island Artists exhibition, Crawford Arts Centre, St Andrews. 1996 The Leith Gallery, Edinburgh. 1996-1998 The Clayton Gallery, Jesmond, Newcastle-upon-Tyne. 1996 Frames Gallery, Perth. 1997 1998 2000 The Journal Art Competition, University Gallery, Newcastle. Bircham Contempory Arts, Norfolk. Bluebell Gallery, Newcastle-upon-Tyne. 2000, 2001 Nexus Galleries, Edinburgh. 2000, 2002 Field Dalling Gallery, Norfolk. 2000, 2001 Riverside Gallery, Stonehaven. 2001 Nancy Poole’s Studio Gallery, Toronto 2002 Rowan Gallery, Drymen 2002, 2005 Castle Gallery, Inverness 2003, 2008 Affordable Arts Fair, London 2003 Glasgow Arts Fair
- Simon Rivett
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- Suburban Edinburgh
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- Ho;yrood
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- Kings Stable Road
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- Flats Holyrood
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- Postbox
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- Hipster Hits the Cafe
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- You're Never Too Old For Roamce
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