Gradwatch 2020: Illustrator Beth Ashley, Leeds Arts College
Beth Ashley's creations feel remarkably fluid, where shapes become viscous and lines blend into one another. Her work has all of the exaggerated contours of graffiti lettering, with distinctive contours highlighted by vivid color blocking.
“In the last year there has certainly been some kind of style, but it took me a while to fully surrender,” she tells us. “I would describe it as a chunky and shapely personification of an inner instinct, with a hefty pinch of buttocks and bare feet. A massive push behind my practice lately has been to take on more responsibility for composition. I love visual density, subtle exaggeration and try to find a calm kind of chaos. “More important to Ashley than style, however, is the tone of her work, which is guided by“ absorbing and joyful language ”.
Ashley studied illustration at Leeds Arts University and works in both illustration and printmaking. Her practice has evolved significantly by the third year, a time she describes as "particularly transformative" as she gained more confidence. "I saw the feel of my voice," she says, "and the value and the frivolity of my work."
Last year she received valuable advice on overcoming "frenzy and anger" which she converted into a "working mental mantra": "Slow down, clear your mind, recapture the mind of infinite potential," she explains . “I write this battle cry in all of my notebooks and sketchbooks, and it has become a useful reminder to be a better functioning person. Stop and step and think and think. "
Although the pandemic impacted the end of her studies, she was able to use her time in isolation. “Like most of the graduates in the last few weeks of our studies, I was just trying to do the best I could. If my last major project had worked out as intended, I would have spent hours getting large-format screen printing results, ”she says.
"As satisfying as that would have been, I would not have taken the time to address deep frustrations that I had in my job. When the lockdown occurred, I found that I was redesigning my process and taking a certain level of ownership over that." After I had that time to explore, I was able to unpack a lot after completing my studies. "
In the absence of physical graduation shows, she and three other Illustrator friends went to great lengths to create an Instagram showcase of her classmates' work. However, during the lockdown, she also tried to part with the noise. "I forever pick up my phone to marvel at and wallow in someone else's productivity, and my own efforts feel weak in comparison," she says. "It has proven to be a crucial act in the last few months to slide away and take care of a real existence while understanding that this is not a race and there is no finish line." It's a good routine to invest in, but difficult to maintain. "
Looking to the future, Ashley wants to work out the connection between language and image ("give me your words and I'll make you a few shapes") and hopes, as a fan of murals, to go on some "big adventures" one day. She says. "One day I hope to see my work on a gigantic scale."
"The creative industry is so expansive that I will shine if I can occupy even a small corner of it." I like the idea of working with extraordinary people and learning from their energy, ”she says, adding that she is particularly interested in the“ goings-on ”in the editorial area. “Ultimately, my main goal is to maintain and maintain my practice. Continuously manufacture, examine, reshape and develop. "
Go here to see all of our Gradwatch picks. bethashleyillustration.co.uk; @ Bethashleyillustration