Norwich University College of the Arts   2008/2009

Lorraine Cooke

AA2A Artist of the year 2009

Lorraine Cooke completed an AA2A Artist residency at ‘Norwich University College of the Arts’ (NUCA) October 08- March 09 and has been awarded the coveted title ‘AA2A Artist of the year 2009’ as the winner of a national public voting competition. The general public, students and staff of AA2A participating colleges have been encouraged to vote nationally for their favourite AA2A artist. The criteria for voting was based around the quality of work, the philosophy of the artist, innovation and technical brilliance.

About the artist

Lorraine graduated from NSAD in 2003 with a 2:1 BA (hons) in Fine Art. In 2004 Lorraine was shortlisted for the ‘Babylon Gallery Award for an emerging artist’ and was also selected to exhibit at the ‘Royale Academy Summer show,’ Fringe of ‘East International.’ Lorraine was a founding member of an East Anglian based art collective called ‘ARTiculate artists syndicate’ (a cooperative of artists and creative practitioners formed to promote the wealth of creativity in East Anglia) of which Lorraine fulfilled the roles of ‘Company Director’ and ‘Company Secretary.’ Following the success of a number of local exhibitions with ‘ARTiculate’ Lorraine has focused on her solo career exhibiting both locally and nationally. In 2006 Lorraine was selected for the ‘2nd Open Competition Exhibition at Byard Art Gallery’ in Cambridge, selected by the former Director of the Fitzwilliam Museum. Lorraine curated an AA2A exhibition at the ‘Mandell’s Gallery’ in Elm Hill, Norwich, which showcased her work alongside two fellow NUCA aa2a artists and nationally established invited artist Roderick Newlands (13th July- 10th August 09.) Lorraine is currently working at NUCA as a Student Mentor.

Personal statement

The AA2A residency enabled me to broaden the scope for genuine experimentation and assimilation of making processes in the exploration of new methodologies in drawing practice. My practice primarily involves cross disciplinary approaches to both drawing and painting. Works produced during the residency demonstrate a symbiosis of techniques including etching, chine colle, drawing, painting, stitching and mixed media and example a long term interest in Oriental art and calligraphic mark making. My work is essentially concerned with the exploration of landscape and inscape, drawing upon the history of landscape genre in painting to rationalize the landscape in which I find myself. Works often emerge as psychological morphologies incorporating organic forms and elements of the natural world in a complex layering of space. Please visit my website to view additional works: www.lorrainecookefineart.co.uk

Lorraine's AA2A story is featured in the publication 'More Artists' Stories'