'SOLO' presents a series of informal exhibitions during which the Wandsworth Studio Artists take it in turn to exhibit their work along the corridor spaces at Studio Voltaire. Each artist will be showing selected artworks for one day, including painting, photography, video and sculpture. These informal shows are a wonderful opportunity to meet the artists and gain an insight into their work.

Nigel Kingsbury's exhibition is the final show in the SOLO series.

Nigel is a true and dedicated artist.

He has been a key member of Action Space’s South London studio project for over 6 years. Having arrived with an established way of working, Nigel uses the weekly studio sessions as an opportunity to work in an artistic space and get new inspiration from the people he meets.

Nigel draws women; he creates delicate, fine portraits. Each of Nigel’s drawing is unique. Sometimes he draws from memory, when you ask him he will tap his head to indicate he is drawing from his mind. Other times Nigel will draw someone specific in the room, often ladies he especially likes or feels bonded with, or sometimes just a new face. Over a two year period, Nigel was especially close to our volunteer Rebekah who he repeatedly drew. If Nigel is fond of the lady he is drawing he will place hearts around his signature as part of the piece.

Nigel has a set approach to his work and each time he creates a piece of work he develops it in the same way: he starts drawing the hair first, to set the structure for the head. Sometimes the hair is very tight, ordered and neat. Other times it is wild and free. When he is happy with the shape of the hair he will draw in the details of the face, focusing on the eyes and mouth. Once he is happy with the face he will free up his drawing style to add the detail of the body and let his imagination loose. He builds up a layering of fine lines, carefully sketched to build the drawing. Sometimes he will draw the lady naked, generally when he’s drawing from memory, then occasionally he will add clothes on afterwards. He often puts the figures into glamorous ball gowns, 1920’s outfits or floating dresses with a heaving bosom.

Nigel has drawn since he was very young. His father says that Nigel used to draw all the time in hospital when he was younger, using the nurses as his inspiration. Nigel still has several of his older sketch books, dating back to the 1980’s and includes drawings of the ice skating champion Jayne Torvill.

Nigel has exhibited widely through Action Space and was selected for Studio Voltaire’s Members Show on three occasions, in 2005, 2006 and 2008. In his review of the 2008 Members Show Time Out art critic Martin Herbert singled out Nigel’s work as a particular highpoint … “A beetle browed, doll-like girl in a monstrous dress emerges from Nigel Kingsbury’s pencil squiggles.”

Date: Tuesday, 5 April 2011
Time: 11am – 2pm
Venue: The Corridor Outside Action Space’s Studio
Studio Voltaire, 1a Nelsons Row, London SW4 7JR
(Enter through the garage gates and knock on the door to gain entry to the building)

For further information contact Action Space:
Tel: 020 7209 4289 Email: info@actionspace.org www.actionspace.org

Dates for other "SOLO" exhibitions:
Tuesday, 15 June 2010 - Victor Bryant
Tuesday, 29 June 2010 - Connie Moth-Price
Tuesday, 13 July 2010 - Peter Furtado
Tuesday 5 October 2010 - David Byrne
Tuesday 19 October 2010 - Chandrakant Patel
Tuesday 16 November 2010 - Roland Young
Tuesday 22 March 2011 - Lasmin Salmon
Tuesday 5 April 2011 - Nigel Kingsbury

The original 'SOLO' series ran from March - November 2009. Details can be found under "Past Exhibitions" at www.actionspace.org/exhibitions/past-exhibitions/039solo039