Image: "Six Waitings" (2019) stitched work by Beth Barlow

The images below show work in progress on four of my people focused projects; "Covif Faces" "Austerity" "Ends" and "Memorial". If you have a group who might like to work alongside me on one of these projects or an audience and space to show please feel free to get in touch via my contacts page.  A small description of each project can be seen by clicking on or hovering over each image.  Links to more info can be seen in the links section below.

"Covid Faces: Novelty Wig" (2021) during the lockdowns I was interested in different people's reactions to the crisis.

"Covid Faces: Home Education" the contributions were varied. Many were positive.

"Covid Faces: new none haircut" (2021) I drew the entries. Drawing gives a certain preciousness to an otherwise throw away photo. Available as a set of six to exhibit or may add to the collection if we have further lock downs.

"Austerity" (2019) a selection of oil paintings based on news stories where a victim of austerity was the protagonist.

"Austerity" (2019) the collection of six paintings includes three deaths of homeless people, a child who fell from a faulty social housing high rise, a carer who was killed by a client and a jobseeker who died in the job centre.

"Austerity" (2021) Leeds Summer Show was an online show. The work is framed and available to be shown alongside community conversations.

"Ends" started in 2021. This work is inspired by the rush for toilet rolls and the uncertainty over the pandemic end.

"Ends" started in 2021. Each painting includes images, marks and words which relate to a specific end. The end of a life, the end of summer, the world. They are mounted on toilet roll tubes.

"Ends" started 2021. I'm still meditating on my feelings about endings. If you would like to add to the conversation about ends get in touch.

"Memorial" started in 2021. I often start my projects with internet research around the subject. This is a memorial bench which you dedicate for 15 years for a set fee.

"Memorial" started in 2021. I've gone on to do drawings of possible memorials. I've asked people to contribute ideas for things they would like memorials for. This one is a giant coprolite (fossilied dinosaur poo). It would memorialise the use of chemical fertilisers which the contributor would like to see in the past.

"Memorial" started in 2021. The drawings are meant as provocations. Sometimes they elicit thought and conversation around a subject, sometimes action. This is a plaque which was created by a fellow artist in response to my drawing of memorial benches. It memorialises the loss of species now common and perhaps not to be a part of our future landscapes.

Links
"Covid Faces" Current Collection
"Ubuntu" (2020)Exhibition at Cupola Gallery
"Austerity" full collection and article
"Leeds Group Summer Show"
"Ends" work in progress and article: coming soon
"Memorial" work in progress and notes: coming soon