Spring Update

Tethered Lines: Matter Becoming - solo exhibition at No.6 Bruton. Photo Russell Sach.

John Ruskin Prize Exhibition, Trinity Buoy Wharf, London

Me with Stilt Structure II. Photo Parker Harris

Since the John Ruskin Prize Exhibition at Trinity Buoy Wharf, London (29 January -21 February), featuring Stilt Structure II, I’ve had a Solo Exhibition Tethered Lines; Matter Becoming (27 February - 8 March) at No 6 Bruton, Somerset. An intimate gallery space, I made the most of the fabulous window.

Photos above by Russell Sach

I made new work for the exhibition. Unravelling the Fury, made of rusty seat springs, rope, wood, cables, steel chains, copper, aluminium, plastic, latex, rubber, foam, fabric, sisal, twine, reclaims early meanings of the serpent. Tied to the Earth, the chthonic realm, across cultures it signifies rebirth, transformation, healing, regeneration, and the cyclical unity of life and death. In matriarchal societies, serpents were worshipped. As patriarchal religions rose, and myths evolved, the serpent’s meaning was distorted: male heroism became defined by slaying it, symbolically silencing the feminine and severing ties to the land. This piece gestures towards a worldview that honours the Earth and all life, equality, alongside an underlying reflection of our waste and consumerism.

Using reclaimed materials and labour-intensive processes, the work engaged with interconnectedness, transformation, and precarity through gestures of care and repair. The show was well received:: “Magical show of work by the ever poetic and inspiring Fiona Campbell. Her work takes on the big issues - environment, waste, the power of nature, our place in it - with such an elegance and lightness of touch that you fall in love with these twisted forms made from found objects, old bits of wire and teabags and learn that there is beauty in the most unlikely of places” - Theresa Simon. I’m grateful to Russell Sach for some excellent photos, and thanks to all who visited, spent time looking, chatting, and buying. I was present at the gallery during open times and so enjoyed the conversations and connections.

Photo Russell Sach

Riot was performed in a Fashion Show (7 February) and later on display in the Costume Exhibition at the Amulet, as part of the Snowdrop Festival, Shepton Mallet. Photos above and below by Jason Bryant.

My work will be part of a group multi-disciplinary exhibition While We’re Watching by six artists who found connection through our shared work together as invigilators at Hauser & Wirth Somerset. Taking place at No 6 Bruton, again, the exhibition runs from 27 March – 6 April (Friday–Sunday, 11am–5pm), 6 High Street, Bruton, Somerset BA10 0AA. PV: Friday 27 March, 6-8pm - all welcome!

I have a few other projects coming up including the making of a large sculptural installation for Winscombe Festival, in collaboration with Tomasin Cuthbert Menes (Soup Soup Arts) and local schools.

I’m also working behind the scenes for Beyond Horizons (Sculpture in the Garden, 4 September-5 October 2026)..

If you’d like to do a course with me, I have a few starting soon with Frome Community Education: Eco Sculpture, Drawing and Creative Sketchbooking. See the full range of courses here. Book soon as number are limited.

Alternatively, my Online Sculpture Course (self-directed) is great value at £40 - take advantage before the price goes up!

For more regular updates follow my Instagram @fionacampbellartist

Last week to visit...

Sack, Cass Art Prize, London

I’ve had an invigorating month installing large-scale works in glorious spaces with the help of an amazing team, and I’m so grateful for all the support. Time has flown by and soon it will be time to de-install 3 shows. This is the final week to visit the following:

Cass Art Prize Exhibition, Copeland Gallery, Peckham, London SE15 3SN runs to Saturday 1 November, Sun-Thur 12-5pm, Fri-Sat 12-7pm. It was an elaborate operation installing Sack - thanks to help from: Roger Spear, Julia Middleton, Georgia Grinter, Jack Robson and Cass Art team. I stayed in London for the Private View (best canapés I’ve had for a long time), and enjoyed visiting other shows (Frieze Sculpture; Giacometti/Hatoum, Barbican; Gomes, Pace; Goudal, Edel Assanti). If you’d like to cast a vote there’s a People’s Choice award - here’s the link.

Threads of Light, Wells Art Contemporary

Wells Art Contemporary, Wells Cathedral, Somerset., My site-specific installation Threads of Light is located in the sublime Chapter House. Daylight streams through the work from stained glass windows. In contrast, it looked wonderfully dramatic on the opening evening with lighting by Greg Trezise. There’s an excellent range of installations and other artwork throughout the Cathedral. Open until Saturday 1 November.

One Island - Many Visions ends on 31 Oct. Don’t miss this show of site-responsive works by 27 artists from Royal Society of Sculptors and Portland Sculpture & Quarry Trust.

Above: My talk at the Artists-in-Conversation event

Below: My Eco Sculpture Workshop

Riot. Photo by Barbara Beyer

You can find my piece Riot at Tout Quarry Sculpture Park & Nature Reserve, Portland, Dorset 📍what3words: ///deliver.press.tilts. Entrances: Memory Stones, Priory Corner DT5 2EN & Tradecroft, Wide Street DT5 2LN. Free parking, open daily.

My sculpture Stilt Structure II is in Bath Society of Artists Open Exhibition, Victoria Gallery, Bath until 10th January 2026, 10.30am-5pm..  I was honoured to be invited as guest selector for 3-d work.

Pleased one of my sculptures (made from repurposed piano parts) is now in the permanent collection at The Piano Shop, Bath. I have 2 more pieces for sale there - do visit.

I’ve just finished teaching a Drawing Course (pics below of participants’ work) and will be running a Creative Sketchbooking Course via Frome Community Education, starting 5 November, Wednesdays 2-4pm, Makers’ Yard, 37 Lower Keyford, Frome BA11 4AR. There are a couple of places left so book soon if interested.

Please visit my instagram for regular updates and images.

Threads of Light

This month I have exhibitions running simultaneously in Portland, Wells, Bath and London. I’ve been installing a new site-responsive piece Threads of Light in the exhilarating Chapter House at Wells Cathedral for Wells Art Contemporary. Really grateful to Roger Spear and the team at WAC for all help and support. Riot continues to change under various weather conditions, sited on the rocks at Tout Quarry Sculpture Park & Nature Reserve in Portland, as part of One Island - Many Visions. Next week I’ll be sitting on the selection panel for Bath Society of Artists Open Exhibition, Victoria Gallery, Bath. My piece Stilt Structure II features in the show. Next, I’ll be reconstructing parts of Sack ready for delivery to the Cass Art Prize Exhibition at Copeland Gallery, London. All very exciting!

Threads of Light: installation in progress. Found/recycled materials: sustainable papers, tea bags, textiles, wax, wood, metal, sandbags.. Photos by Maddie Keates

An ancient tree, ghostly limbs and a ruined landscape evoke loss; yet mycelial threads - networks of energy - offer regeneration. Threads of Light considers the entangled relationships between humans, forests, and climate change. We are all connected.

‘Flowing light’ is the WAC theme this year, symbolising enlightenment. it relates to 13th century mystic Mechthild of Magdeburg’s writings, which draw on her union with God, pain, love, divine flow. My work suggests fostering deeper union with natural world, throwing light on the plight of forests, and nature’s tenacity. The immersive oscillation of verticals, translucent branching forms, fluid networks evocative of mycelium, fungal ecologies and forest histories creates a dynamic, ethereal atmosphere. Line interweaves through labour-intensive processes of care and repair: interconnectedness, flow of energy weaving through nature, binding life. A ghost tree, surrounded by shattered tree stumps, references deforestation, wildfires, climate change, haunting war visions. Hope is an act of resistance in dark times.

The exhibition runs from Wednesday 8 October - Saturday 1 November. Private View Thursday 9 October, 7pm. Entrance fee to the Cathedral includes WAC. Under 18s, free as are Wells residents with a local pass.

Riot Performance, 14 September, with me and Melanie Thompson: Found, recycled & donated materials: beach waste (ghost netting, rope, hard hats, fishing floats), wire, textiles (some home-dyed with natural pigments), wool, twine, plastic, sponge, polyester, natural debris, sandbags. Photos by Andy Ralston

On a very rainy day last month I performed with Melanie Thompson wearing Riot (in 2 parts) at its site in the quarry, Portland (what3words: ///deliver.press.tilts). Thanks to the small audience who braved the elements to watch. There will be a film produced of the event by Andy Ralston, which I will publish when edited.

I’ll be leading a FREE Eco Sculpture Workshop Friday 10 October, 2-4.30pm, Drill Hall, Portland (funded by The Arts Society Wessex Area) - last chance to book: fionacampbell-art@sky.com

I’ll also be taking part in an Artists-in-Conversation, Sunday 19 October 2pm with Ros Burgin, Nicola Turner, Rebecca Newnham, Kate Parson, Hannah Sofaer, chaired by Freeny Yianni (Close Ltd). Meet at Drill Hall.

Other Exhibitions:

Bath Society of Artists Open Exhibition, Victoria Art Gallery, Bath, Sat 18th October 2025 - 10th January 2026, 10.30am-5pm.

Shortlisted for the Cass Art Prize 2025, Sack will be on exhibiton at Copeland Gallery, Unit 9, Copeland Park, 133 Copeland Rd, London SE15 3SN, Friday 24 October – Saturday 1 November.

Courses:

Creative Sketchboooking (via Fome Community Education) - last chance to book

Interesting article:

https://theecologist.org/2025/sep/07/food-sovereignty-climate-justice

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Happenings

Riot, recycled materials inc. ocean litter. Tout Quarry Sculpture Park & Nature Reserve. Photo Barbara Beyer

My piece Riot is now installed on the rocks at Tout Quarry Sculpture Park & Nature Reserve, as part of One Island - Many Visions.. We had a lovely and very successful opening Private View last weekend. See full description of Riot here, including what3words location. (Entrances – Memory Stones, Priory Corner DT5 2EN and Tradecroft – Wide Street DT5 2LN. Free Parking Tout Quarry carpark & Heights Hotel.)

I’ll be activating Riot as an intervention, in collaboration with Melanie Thompson this Sunday 14 Sept, 2pm at its site. It will be more of a happening than performance. Do come if you can. We will be there no matter the weather! Bring a brolly ;-)

I’ll be leading an Eco Sculpture Workshop on Friday 10 October 2-4.30pm, Drill Hall, (Easton Lane, Portland DT5 1BW). Book: fionacampbell-art@sky.com. I’ll also be taking part in an Artists- in-Conversation, Sunday 19 October 2pm with Ros Burgin, Nicola Turner, Rebecca Newnham, Kate Parson, Hannah Sofaer, chaired by Freeny Yianni (Close Ltd). Save the date! For further info see @oneislandmanyvisions.

Riot. Photos above by Barbara Beyer

Me with Riot. Photo Seamus Moran

Me with Madi Acharya Baskerville. Photo Barbara Beyer

My installation Threads of LIght is still in the making.  It will be sited in The Chapter House, Wells Cathedral for Wells Art Contemporary. The exhibition will run from Wed 8 Oct - Sat 1 Nov. Private View 9 October, 7pm.

Sack (shortlisted for the Cass Art Prize 2025) will be on exhibiton at Copeland Gallery, Unit 9, Copeland Park, 133 Copeland Rd, London SE15 3SN, Fri 24 Oct – Sat 1 Nov.

Exciting weeks ahead! I hope you can visit some of these events.

Upcoming Courses via Frome Community Education - book soon as places are limited:

Drawing:  https://www.fromecommed.org.uk/courses/id/drawing

Creative Sketchboooking: https://www.fromecommed.org.uk/courses/id/creative-sketchbooking-afternoon1

A huge heartfelt thank you to those who’ve donated towards my shed and performance work: Caroline Driscoll, Hanne Castein, Angela Morley, Claire Alves, Julia Middleton, Victoria Grinter. Greetings Cards will be winging their way to you soon! My shed is being incredibly useful already to store my work for WAC (see pics above).

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Ongoing

Working on the second part of Riot for One Island - Many Visions, inspired by Maritime Sunburst Lichen growing on the rocks at Tout Quarry.

Riot is a site-responsive installation, created from recycled materials including ocean waste, to be placed on rocks in the quarry. It’s also a wearable sculpture. I’m raising funds to work with a dance/choreographer leading to a performance at the quarry during the show. Let me know if you can contribute. Any amount much appreciated, however small.

I’ll be taking part in a Pecha Kucha, Tuesday 17 June, 6.30-8.30pm, Stroud Valley Arts, 4 John Street, Stroud, Gloucestershire GL5 2HA. £3 cash or card on the door. ‘8 visual artists present their work in the brilliant 20x20 pecha kucha format: Emilie Sandy; Fiona Campbell; Jessica Akerman; Risée Chaderton-Charles; Sam Marsh; Albie Luca; Deborah Cox; Tilly Geoghegan

Sack is on show at Insert There, curated by Roger Clarke, 'The Street’, Locksbrook Campus, Bath Spa University BA1 3EL, part of Fringe Arts Bath Festival ‘25. FAB runs until 7 June. Visit all works

Some of my work is showing in the Round Tower, Black Swan Arts, 2 Bridge St, Frome BA11 1BB, part of Frome Community Education Tutors Art Exhibition, until Saturday 7 June. I’ll be there on 4 & 6 June, 10-1 if you want to say hello.

Last chance to book my upcoming Eco Sculpture Course with Frome Community Education, Wednesdays, 2-4pm, starting on 4 June for 5 weeks. Makers’ Yard, 37 Lower Keyford, Frome BA11 4AR. Book here

II’ll be leading a one-day Eco Sculpture workshop at the Hidden Cabin, The Grange, Charlcombe Lane, Larkhall, Bath BA1 8D;, on Friday 25 July, 10am-3.30pm. Book here

More workshops coming soon.

Visual Arts South West is calling on everyone working in the visual arts to write to their MP asap to urge them to champion our sector in the forthcoming Comprehensive Spending Review. This is a critical moment — big decisions are being made that will shape public investment, livelihoods, and the future of our sector for years to come. Outcomes will be announced on 11th June

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