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Ashton Blyth

Ashton Blyth’s practice investigates the theme of identity, most recently conveying his themes through animations. “With my work, I aim to create non-specific in medium artworks that challenge the rules and restraints society lays out for us in regard to our personal identity - because they should be challenged, broken down and reformed in new ways to represent the constant evolution of identity in society.”

Identity is an ideological construct created by society, our identity is formed by what tick boxes we fit that society hands us. When you look at a portrait artist’s work, it’s a fixed and permanent view of somebody’s identity.  In the modern world, it’s more fluid and non-binary, and this should be represented not only in society, but in art as well. Society’s viewpoints on gender, sexuality, race, religion etc. are changing, and that needs to be showcased more – which is what Blyth intends to do so with his own work.

Ashton Blyth - Outside of the Ferens Gal

Throughout the years of his education in the arts, Blyth has developed his skills in a variety of mediums: drawing, etching, printmaking, sculpture, laser-cutting, film and projection. Blyth’s preferred method of creation being to combine several mediums to build an installation that the audience can participate or immerse themselves in. Blyth believes these methods have proven invaluable in improving audience understand of his work and its significance regarding gender and sexuality. Having chosen to explore the contexts of his practice in an assortment of ways, Blyth feels this has enhanced his ability to aid students investigating a multiplicity of mediums and allow his teaching to cater for a diverse range of interests and abilities, offering direction and support from a place of experience.

Skills

  • Communication

  • Time-keeping

  • Teamwork

  • Leadership

  • Customer Service

  • Computer skills, proficient in:

    • Adobe Illustrator

    • CorelDRAW Graphics Suite

    • XARA Graphics Suite

    • Microsoft Office 365

Education 

2021 - Present

Central Saint Martins, University of the Arts London, London.

MA Fine Art: Digital

2018 - 2021

Staffordshire University, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire.

BA (Hons) Fine Art - First Class

2014 - 2017

Priestley College, Warrington, Cheshire.

Diploma in Foundation Studies (Art and Design) - Distinction

A-Level Fine Art - B

AS Mathematics - D

AS Psychology - D

2009 - 2014

Bishops Bluecoat Church of England High School, Chester, Cheshire.

GCSEs overall - A, 4B, 3C, 2D including:

  • Art and Design: Fine Art - B

  • English Language - B

  • Mathematics - A

Professional Arts Qualifications

2017

2017

2017

Arts Award Facilitator for:

Silver Award

Bronze Award

Discover and Explore Award

Awards

23rd November 2021

Visual Art Open 2021, Young Artist Winner

28th October 2021

Spark Animation 2021, Special Mention Social Message Award

17th October 2021

PRIDEFILM International Online Film Festival, Honourable Mention

29th August 2021

Queer Global Arts International Online Film Festival, Audience Choice Award Silver

Exhibitions 

Group

9th December 2022 - 12th March 2023

Bloomberg New Contemporaries 2022, South London Gallery and Fire Station Gallery, Peckham Road, London. ENGLAND

23rd September - 27th November 2022

Bloomberg New Contemporaries 2022, Ferens Art Gallery, Queen Victoria Square, Carr Lane, Hull. ENGLAND

April 2022

March 2022

March 2022

November 2021

August 2021

June 2021

June 2021

November 2019

May 2019

February 2019

Field, Carton Arts, Catford, London. ENGLAND

Moontopia, B-Arts, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire. ENGLAND

This Is Not A Party, The Chainstore, Trinity Buoy Wharf, London. ENGLAND

Visual Art Open Finalists 2021, UK & International Emerging Artist Awards, ONLINE.

Stoke-on-Trent Pride, Hanley Park, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire. ENGLAND

Coming Out, M.A.D.S. Art Gallery, Milan. ITALY

Divergence, Cadman Studios - Staffordshire University. ENGLAND

Me, Myself and I, Cadman Studios - Staffordshire University. ENGLAND

Amalgamation, Cadman Studios - Staffordshire University. ENGLAND

Personification, Cadman Studios - Staffordshire University. ENGLAND

Film Festivals

9th - 12th December 2021

International Queer Film Festival Merlinka, Serbia

Felt Right Then, Feels Right Now - OFFICIALLY SELECTED

11th - 14th November 2021

San Francisco Transgender Film Festival

Felt Right Then, Feels Right Now - OFFICIALLY SELECTED

28th October - 7th November 2021

Spark Animation, British Columbia's only Oscar-accredited film festival

Felt Right Then, Feels Right Now - SPECIAL MENTION, SOCIAL MESSAGE AWARD

17th October 2021

PRIDEFILM International Online Film Festival

Felt Right Then, Feels Right Now - HONOURABLE MENTION

15th - 18th October 2021

Las Vegas Queer Arts Film Festival

Felt Right Then, Feels Right Now - OFFICIALLY SELECTED

19th September 2021

Color's of Love - Edition II, International Film Festival

Felt Right Then, Feels Right Now - OFFICIALLY SELECTED

27th - 29th August 2021

Queer Global Arts Festival, International Film Festival

Felt Right Then, Feels Right Now - WINNER AUDIENCE CHOICE AWARD SILVER

TBC

Film with Pride, Liverpool Pride’s Film Festival

Felt Right Then, Feels Right Now - OFFICIALLY SELECTED

7th August 2021

Taos Pride, New Mexico's Short Film Festival

Felt Right Then, Feels Right Now - OFFICIALLY SELECTED

1st - 31st August 2021

FilmPride, Brighton & Hove's Official Queer Film Festival

Felt Right Then, Feels Right Now - OFFICIALLY SELECTED

29th July 2021

Louisiana Rainbow: LGBT+ Film Festival, Louisiana, USA

Felt Right Then, Feels Right Now - WINNER TRANSVIDEO FILMMAKER AWARD

Press

Commissions / Events / Talks

15th December 2021

Priestley College, Presentation to A-Level and Foundation Art and Design students and faculty on my artwork over the years, and speaking to students on a 1-to-1 basis about their own practice

8th August 2021

Better World Festival, Display The Interactive Tube Map at Stoke-on-Trent's Better World Festival 2021 and a 30-minute presentation about my work as an LGBTQIA+ artist

7th August 2021

Stoke-on-Trent Pride, The Interactive Tube Map printed to display and use at Stoke-on-Trent Pride 2021, as well as display and talk about both the map and the animation Felt Right Then, Feels Right Now

20th June 2019

Private Commission, Cartoon made using CorelDRAW Graphics Suite.

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