I am a painter, using oils and gouache. I live and work in Folkestone, on the South East coast of England. The seascape here symbolises the close connections I've formed with fellow swimmers, inspiring much of my semi abstract work. I paint figures with animated, gestural brush strokes, wet on wet, enjoying the experience of paint sliding and blending. In my geometric abstract pieces, I aim to capture the different sensations water evokes, from icy cold to steamy warmth.
My practice centers on women’s wellbeing, encompassing both real experiences and imagined scenarios. Exploring women's health and our primal bonds with the elements, which begin in the womb and continue throughout life, is at the core of my current work. Some of my pieces are imagined, yet deeply rooted in these primal connections.
I studied Visual Communication in Birmingham, graduating in 1985 and became a designer, animator and illustrator in London, spanning 30 years at the BBC. A yearning for authentic self expression and more meaningful work brought me to painting and to Folkestone, where there is a thriving art community.
I won the Cass Art Prize for most innovative use of colour in 2023. I have been selected several times for Mall Galleries exhibitions. My animations have been shown at The Turner Contemporary and The Photographers Gallery, London. I won awards at Women over Fifty Film Festival 2020 and 2021 at WRPN Film Festival.
For more insights I invite you to follow me on instagram @sue_bridge and sign up to my newsletter which will keep you up to date with exhibitions, open studios, and inspirational moments behind my work.
Exhibitions / Film screenings
2024 April Exhibition of Abstract Art, ArtGallerySW, online
2024 Jan Linden Hall Studio, Winter Show, Deal
2024 Jan Folkestone Art Gallery, Winter Show
2023 Nov ING Discerning Eye, Mall Galleries, London
2023 Sep Studio 16 Connections, Folkestone Art Gallery
2023 Jun Open studio, Studio 7, 56-58 Old High Street, Folkestone
2023 Aug Subliminal Influences, Folkestone Art Gallery
2023 July Subliminal Influences, Horsebridge Centre, Whitstable
2023 Mar Royal Society Painters in Watercolours, Mall Galleries, London
2022 Oct Xmas Open, Folkestone Art Gallery
2022 Oct Winter Open, Lilford Gallery, Canterbury
2022 Sep Land, Sea & Sky, Folkestone Art Gallery
2022 Sep Embrace the elements, Neuron, Folkestone
2022 Sep Your Menopause, animation screening, Lewes
2022 Aug Positive Vibes, One New Street Art Gallery, Herne Bay
2022 July Opening exhibition, Folkestone Art Gallery
2022 July Aqua, Ryebank Gallery, Rye
2022 Jun NEAC, Mall Galleries, London
2022 May Seas the Day, Brewery Tap, UCA Project Space, Folkestone
2022 Feb Dirty Secrets, Frontier Gallery, Sheffield
2022 Jan Jon Bird Open, Fishslab Gallery, Whitstable
2021 Dec Zilch! I curated a group show on the theme of upcycled art, 8 Squared gallery, Folkestone
2021 Dec Art Hug, Solo exhibition of paintings, 8 Squared gallery, Folkestone
2021 Sep Open studio, Studio 7, 56-58 Old High Street, Folkestone
2021 Aug Touchbase Gallery, Folkestone, Solo exhibition during Folkestone Triennial
2021 Animation selected for WRPN Women's International Film Festival, Delaware & JellyFest Los Angeles, CA USA
2020 Animation selected for WOFFF Film Festival, London, Experimental Forum, Los Angeles, CA USA. Mint Festival, Rotterdam
2019 Animation selected for ‘Strangelove Festival’ Turner Contemporary Margate, Photographers Gallery London, Hop Projects Folkestone, Fabrica Brighton
2019 ‘Identity’, Kaleidoscope Gallery, Sevenoaks
2017 ‘Brink’, Brew, Folkestone
2017 ‘Open Quarter’ Folkestone, Tontine St, B and B studios
2016 ‘Age of Austerity’ University of Kent, Chatham Dockyard
2016 ‘A1’ Horsebridge, Whitstable
2015 ’Memory’ Pie factory, Margate
2015 ‘In the Dock’ University of Kent, Chatham Dockyard
2015 ‘POST’ Fine Art Professional Development Programme, Tonbridge Art School
2015 ‘Art Spring’ Tunnel Art Gallery, Tonbridge
2014 ‘Sevenoaks Visual Arts Forum Open’ Kaleidoscope Gallery, Sevenoaks
2014 ‘Tonbridge Arts Festival Open’ Commended
2014 ‘South East Area SEOS Showcase Exhibition’ Kaleidoscope Gallery, Sevenoaks
2014 ‘Art Spring’ Tunnel Art Gallery, Tonbridge
2013 ‘Fusion’ Kent College Pembury, Tunbridge Wells
2013 ‘Sue Walker Solo Exhibition’ Trinity Art Gallery, Tunbridge Wells
2013 ‘SEOS Sue Walker’ The Summer House, Tunbridge Wells
Collections
Work held by private collectors across the UK, Germany and the United States
Education
2016 Post graduate Fine Art Professional Development programme, Tonbridge Art School
2014 Slade Summer School
1985 BA (hons) Visual Communication, First Class, Birmingham City University
Bibliography
2023 Subliminal Influences review https://mailchi.mp/6bd441314370/subliminal-influences-show
2020 WOFFF Q & A Online Sue Bridge interviewed by Heidi McCormack, CEO Emerald Life https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=12&v=kqfh73wi7Fc&feature=emb_logo
2014 SEOS 2014 Showcase Exhibition Current News ’25 Members selected to show their work at this prestigious venue'
2014 Tonbridge Daily Online Review by Suzannah Niklas http://tonbridgedaily.blogspot.co.uk/2014/01/tonbridge-artist-sue-walker-at-trinity.html
2013 Tonbridge Daily Online Review by Suzannah Niklas http://tonbridgedaily.blogspot.com/2013/06/tonbridge-artist-sue-walker.html