SUSAN TEBBY BA(Hons) PhD FRSA

Studied Fine Art at Goldsmiths' School of Art (1962-66), receiving a distinction for her dissertation ‘Rhythmic Proportion: a Study of the Relationship Between Art and Mathematics' , and Fine Art Post-graduate year at Chelsea School of Art (1966-67). Between 1976-83 carried out research for a PhD in Fine Art (Inter-disciplinary) jointly at the Slade School of Fine Art, University College London and Leicester Polytechnic, now De Montfort University. ‘ Patterns of Organisation in Constructive Art' was one of the first practice-based research programmes (with a 60,000 word thesis and exhibition) awarded a PhD by the CNAA.

Taught Visual Research in the School of Industrial Design at Leicester Polytechnic 1967-70 and then Sculpture in the School of Fine Art, from 1970 onwards, becoming Head of Sculpture, 1988-92. Awarded a Personal Chair in Fine Art 1994, with responsibility for research throughout the School, until resigning in 2001 to focus more fully on her own work. Visiting Tutor at the Slade, Post-graduate Studies, 1977-78 and since then, Visiting Artist/Lecturer/Professor at many Institutions, including Birmingham, Chelsea, Exeter, Edinburgh Schools of Art. Lecture subjects include the relationship of practice to theory; art for public spaces and places; processes of creativity, the concept of inter-disciplinarity, as well as contemporary issues in constructivism etc. Has also lectured in mathematics at the Universities of Edinburgh, Leicester, Nottingham and Oxford, Department of Continuing Education, and Archaeology at the Universities of London, Warwick, Manchester, Keele and Leicester.

Has given papers at conferences, particularly on research in non-traditional areas and in practice, including Sculpture in Education conference at Manchester Metropolitan University, 1992; Design for Living , 3DD conference at Sheffield Hallam University, 1993; Research in Art and Design , Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen, 1994; Matrix 3-D , Central School of Art and Design 1995 etc and The Question of Originality in Practice-based Research at the University of Hertfordshire, 2000. Over the last decade has been MA, MPhil and PhD External Examiner at numerous universities, including Manchester Metropolitan University, The Royal College of Art, University of Leeds, Bretton Hall, University of Central England, Robert Gordon University: Grays School of Art, University of Gloucester (2006) and others.

Has had a number of periods of leave from teaching to pursue professional activities, including two sabbaticals to the Tate Gallery, London to work on the Retrospective Exhibitions for Kenneth Martin (1975) and Mary Martin (1984) - both constructivist artists - designing and editing the catalogue for Mary Martin, and carrying out restoration for both Retrospectives.

Trained in field archaeology 1972-73. A sabbatical from Leicester Polytechnic was awarded to carry out research for a book: Roman Tessellated Pavements: Constructive Theory and Practice , 1994, for which she received a Leverhulme Research Fellowship. Recent research papers have been presented at the Rome Colloquium on Ancient Mosaics in 2001 and for the Leicestershire Literary and Philosophical Society, 2004 – published in their Transactions . In 2002 set up publishing venture: Walker Mayo Associates , which issued a CD of circa 200 comparative analytical drawings of Geometric Design in Roman Pavements, and a book of the same title in 2003. Drawings and photographs have been published since, including in House of the Maenander, Pompeii , Roger Ling (University of Manchester), OUP, 2004.

Has exhibited in more than one hundred shows – solo, group and touring - since 1964, in the UK, Europe and USA, including: 1971 Serpentine Gallery (solo show, West Gallery); 1983 Nature-Structure-Construction , Taidemuseo, Kemi, Finland (additionally editing the book of the same name, published the same year); 1989 Arte Systematico y Constructivo , Centro Culturale, Madrid; 1989 Constructivism: Man Versus Environment , World Trade Centre, Rotterdam; 1990 Before Sculpture: Sculptors' Drawings , New York Studio School, NY; more recently has shown in 21 Abstract and Constructive Artists, Galerie Laik, Koblenz, 1999; Mondiale Echoes , Mondriaanhuis, Amersfoort, 2000 and again at the Mondriaanhuis in September 2003. Most exhibitions have published statements or catalogue essays. Conference papers on her professional art practice include Sculpture in the Garden , Artstranspennine, Bretton Hall, 2000 and at the Bomen van Pythagoras Conference, Mondriaanhuis, 2003. Has won 25 awards, grants and prizes; works in 66 collections, UK and abroad.

Public commissions and environmental and architectural projects have been carried out since 1965. These have included 1984, Constructivist Gates for the Liverpool Garden Festival ; 1986-89, Layered Lattices: A Constructive Environment, an architecturally integrated interior painted scheme for the whole Out-Patients Department, Hammersmith Hospital, London; 1988-89, Interconnections , three wall reliefs for British Rail at Reading Station; 1991-93, Hill, Beck and Marsh , Quarry House, Leeds, for the Departments of Health and Social Security, two large sculpturally landscaped courtyards, with electronically phased water features, hard and soft landscaping, seating and lighting; 1993-94, Stepped Lattices , a sculptural landscaping scheme, with stabilization structures and lighting, for the University of Warwick; 1993-95, Tidal Reach , an electronically programmed water feature and paving for Chatham High Street, Kent, for Rochester City Council, etc. She worked on a series of public design projects for Warwickshire Schools, realised between 1995 and 1998. Since then has given lectures and talks and held seminars on public art, for city and district councils and other bodies, most recently conducting interviews with the public on the viability of art in and for public space for Art Matters and Birmingham City Council, 2006.

In addition to critical essays, broadsheets and statements about her own work, has also written on the work of constructivists Kenneth and Mary Martin, most recently a chapter: Working Methods in the book to accompany the touring exhibition of the work of Mary Martin, 2004-5 and wrote the (short) biography of Mary Martin for the New DNB , OUP, 2004. Co-authored the book on Ann Sutton for the Crafts Council, published Lund Humphries, 2004. Currently working on restoration of the Martins' work for the forthcoming centenary exhibition, 2007, at the Camden Arts Centre, London.

Up-dated March 2007

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all images & text copyright Susan Tebby 2007