Artist: Sophie McKay Knight

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The visual sources and inspiration for my work come simply from observing all kinds of people in all sorts of situations.

I ‘collect’ images of people from everywhere - often remembering a scene I have witnessed; sometimes responding to a fictional and/or historical character. I am very interested in storytelling, everyday magic, and the blurring of zones. Other things which inspire me are memory, reflections, imprints and history – things which I believe can survive through time.

Over the past few years I have been developing a mixed media technique which combines painting and printmaking in alternate layers. I mainly work with screenprinting and acrylic paint, adding drawing elements to the final piece.

The use of text is also an important part of my work, and I use it to form the printed layers of my pieces. Sources for the text include lists, letters, doodles, stories and newspaper articles. I am particularly interested in handwriting and have been collecting peoples’ lists and letters for some time. Recent work has utilized text from fairytales and fables - ancient and modern.

Often, during the layering process, words and phrases crop up in unexpected places, and I enjoy how this enables me to manipulate seemingly random juxtapositions. However, as the text is often deeply trapped in between figurative imagery, you may have to look quite hard to find the hidden message!

CV

Sophie studied Fine Art at Edinburgh University and College of Art, gaining an MA (Hons) in 1997. She has been practicing as a professional artist ever since, working and exhibiting throughout the UK and abroad.

Sophie has worked professionally with Art in Hospitals (1997-2001), Dundee Contemporary Arts (2001-2003), Kirkcaldy Museum & Art Gallery (2009), and Tate Gallery, Liverpool (2000-2008). She has been a committee member with Visual Arts Scotland (2001-2004), and given workshops in association with Fife Council, St Andrews University (2008,2009) and the National Galleries of Scotland (2008).

Solo Exhibitions
Bianco Nero Gallery 16th May – 18th June 2011
Amber Arts, Edinburgh 18th Nov 2010 – 12th Jan 2011
The Leith Gallery 3rd-25th October 2008
The Randolph Gallery 9th-26th November 2005
The Scottish Arts Club (Prize) 25th October,24th November 2005
The Campden Gallery 16th April – 8th May 2005

Sophie has exhibited regularly since 1998 at the Royal Scottish Academy, as part of the Annual Open exhibitions with the SSA, Visual Arts Scotland and the Royal Society of Watercolourists. Her work can also be regularly seen in Edinburgh galleries, The Leith Gallery, Colours Gallery and Amber Arts.

Selected Group Exhibitions
Head to Head, Union Gallery, Edinburgh (4 person show) July 2011
AAF & Chelsea Art Fair (Cameron Contemporary Art)            March 2011
RSW & VAS at the Royal Scottish Academy February-March 2011 May 2010
Scottish Artists at the Red Rag Gallery June – 2010

May 2010
Scottish Artists at the Red Rag Gallery June – August 2011 & 2010
Red Rag Gallery, Stowe June-September 2009
The London Art Fair March 2009
The Taybury Gallery March – May 2009
ASPECT Prize Exhibition July/August 2008
Aberdeen Art Gallery May 2008
Cyril Gerber Fine Art &
Compass Gallery, Glasgow 2007 & 2008
The Glasgow Art Fair 2006 & 2007
Amber Roome Contemporary Art (4 person show) 2006 & 2007
The Chambers Gallery, London September 2006
The Campden Gallery 2004 & 2005
Colours Gallery 2004,2005,2007,2008 &2009
The Scottish Drawing Competition 2004
The Jerwood Drawing Prize exhibition, 2001 & 2002

Prizes and Awards
Hope Scott Trust Award June 2008
Scottish Arts Club Award January 2005
Best painting Prize (VAS at RSA) December 2003
Special Commendation,
Jerwood Drawing Competition July 1999