Lucy Stevens is a British artist (b. 1982) who lives and works in Leicester, UK.
She received a BA (Hons) and an MA in Fine Art from Nottingham Trent University,
graduating from the MA course in 2007. Stevens’ body of work encompasses mixed
media 2D works, site-specific installations, sound walks, concerts and most recently
sculpture.
She creates vibrant abstract portraits of avian subjects and rural landscapes inspired
by ornithology and colour theory. Her projects often include working in collaboration
with experts in the natural world including scientists, bird watching and ringing
groups, museum curators, ornithologists, photographers, musicians and bird
conservation charities to develop a deeper understanding of her subject area.
Stevens explores our complex relationship with nature, by re-interpreting bird
conservation case studies, natural science museum collections and visualising
animal vocalisations through a range of methodical techniques to develop a register
of colour-coded symbols and mark making.
Stevens has exhibited across the East Midlands and London, including a solo
exhibition at Leicester Museum, and in London at The Affordable Art Fair and The
Other Art Fair. She has been commissioned by The National Forest, Nottingham
Castle Museum & Art Gallery, Attenborough Arts Centre, The University of Leicester
and Wirksworth Festival to develop new mixed media works on paper and site-
specific sound works. She has also taken part in artist residencies in London,
Leicester, Scotland, Brussels, France, and Sweden. Public art collections include
Leicester Museum, The University of Leicester and Nottingham Trent University.
Her most recent work in collaboration with Leicester Museum & Art Gallery explores
creative methods for cataloguing British bird skin specimens. Her solo exhibition
‘Colour Coded Birds’, saw a diverse collection of bird specimens grouped together
by colour alongside contemporary artworks. The bird skin collection inspired Lucy to
create new 2D and 3D artworks that use intense colour combinations. Artworks
included within the exhibition combine photography of the bird skins on display with
Lucy’s signature instinctive mark marking. As well as colourful abstract wooden
sculptures, holding bird eggs from the museum’s collection, which interpret
ornithological data.
Lucy has also worked with The British Trust for Ornithology and Leicestershire &
Rutland Wildlife Trust to explore the effects of climate change on migratory birds.
The exhibition of new work in ‘Chasing Seasons’ saw a collection of mixed media
artwork informed by scientific research to demonstrate declines in bird populations
and changes in bird behaviour due to extreme weather conditions.
Find out more at: www.lucystevens.co.uk
