About
Jilly Morris is an artist, who produces work that is response-led, particularly to place or process. Frequently referencing landscape, as well as diverse historical and cultural narratives, much of her work incorporates drawing, ephemeral sculpture, installation, photography, and collecting and recording obscure (and often fun) forms of data. A former Graphic Designer for the BBC, she retrained as a fine artist, graduating with an MA in 2006 at the University of the West of England (UWE). She is the recipient of funding from the Arts Council England, and development awards such as StudioBook and Artist News (AN) bursaries. Jilly Morris has exhibited widely throughout the UK, and finds the symbiotic relationships formed in artist residencies and local communities a stimulating part of her creative process. Jilly has been awarded seven residencies, including a year-long artist residency (VARC) in a rural hill farming community.
Curriculum Vitae
Academic History 2006 – Master’s Degree – Art by Research – University of the West of England UK
1985 – BA Honours Degree – Graphic Design – Lanchester Polytechnic UK
Residencies 2025 – Visual Arts in Rural Communities (VARC) – Northumberland – UK (2 weeks)
2023 – Artist Residency Thailand – PREM International School – Thailand (4 months)
2020 & 2023 – Top Shed – Norwich – UK (4 months / 1 month)
2015 – The Observatory – SPUD Group – Lymington Salt Marshes – UK (2 months)
2009/2010 – Visual Arts in Rural Communities (VARC) – Northumberland – UK (1yr)
2007 – KHN Centre for the Arts – Nebraska City – USA (3 months)
Awards/grants 2024 – Shadowlands – Drawing Correspondence – development programme
2017 – Studiobook 2017 development award – Mark Devereux Projects
2017 – AN (Artist News) – Travel bursary
2007 – ACE – Grants for Arts – Arts Council England
2007 – Emerging Enameller Award – British Society of Enamellers
2007 – Emerging Artist Award – Devon Guild Craftsmen
Selected Exhibitions & Solo Shows
2025 Full Circle – 25 years exhibition – VARC – Northumberland – UK
In Gratitude – Full Circle – Artist Residency – VARC – Northumberland – UK
Trinity Bouy Wharf 2024 Drawing Prize Exhibition – Touring – UK
2024 Trinity Bouy Wharf 2024 Drawing Prize Exhibition – London – UK
What is Home? – solo show – Little Box – Chiang Mai – Thailand
Shadowlands – Drawing Correspondence – online project
2023 Top Shed – Artist Residency – Norwich – UK
Prem Tinsulanonda International School – Artist Residency – Thailand
C.A.P Studio – Print Collaboration – Thailand
2022 Ageing – On line collaborative project between Thailand & UK
It’s Tough being a Teddy – self initiated book project (ongoing)
2021 Travelled in Thailand & South East Asia
2020 Top Shed – Artist Residency – Norwich – UK
30 x 30 – West Acre Gallery – Norfolk
2019 Travelled Europe & South East Asia
TIME after [ () ] after TIME – Briggait – Glasgow
2018 Travelled Europe & South East Asia
Exhibition Wall – Bodhi Nava Boutique Hostel & Cafe – Yangon – Myanmar
2017 In Nothing Flat – Old Granada Studios – Manchester
Studiobook 17 – Mark Devereux Projects – Manchester
40 Years – Centrespace Gallery – Bristol
Drawn – Royal West Academy – Bristol
Pay & Display – Centrespace Gallery – Bristol
2016 Black Swan Open – Frome
The Observatory Residencies Exhibition – St. Barbe’s Museum – Lymington
Shifting Divides – Drawing & Print – Centrespace Gallery – Bristol
Outlines – Heritage Courtyard Studios – Wells
2015 Collectables – Solo Show – Studio Fusion – London
162 Annual Open Exhibition – Royal West Academy – Bristol
Drawn – Royal West Academy – Bristol
Look in Look Out – Coastal Gallery – Lymington
Observatory Residency – Lymington salt marshes
2014 Pinnies From Heaven – Craft in the Bay – Cardiff
Shadow & Line – Select – Museum in The Park – Stroud
2013 161 Annual Open Exhibition – Royal West Academy – Bristol
The Big Draw – Tokarska Gallery – London
Drawn – Royal West Academy – Bristol
Pairings 11 – Contemporary Applied Arts – London
Drawing Open – Salisbury Arts – Salisbury
2012 Stitching & Thinking, Mending at the Museum – Bristol Museum – Bristol
Drawing, Permanence & Place – Kulturhaus Kroenbacken – Erfurt – Germany
Surface Disturbances – The Searchers Contemporary – Bristol
Pairings 11 – Conversations & Collaborations – SIT- Museum in the park – Stroud
Centrespace Group Show – Bristol
Contemporary Drawings – Gallery 55 – Surrey
2011 ‘Jilly Goes North’ film screening – Cube Cinema – Bristol
Drawing, Permanence & Place – Kunstverein – Coburg – Germany
2010 1,873,333 Steps, A Peripatetic Investigation – Solo Show – VARC artist residency –
Visual Arts in Rural Communities – Northumberland
Abstract – Cheltenham Art Gallery – Gloucestershire
2009 Visual Arts in Rural Communities – VARC Residency – Northumberland
20 / 21 Vision – Visual Arts Centre – Lincolnshire
Spring show – View Gallery Bristol
2008 New Designers (applied arts) – Independently organised with MA group
The Spoon that Feeds the Soul – ETC Research Group – UWE – Bristol
Remember Me – UWE with BRACE – UK Create Centre – Bristol
2007 Memories of Nebraska – Solo Show – KHN Centre for the Arts – USA
KHN Kimmel Harding & Nelson Residency – Nebraska- USA
Get Fresh – Devon Guild of Craftsmen – Devon
Not Now – Pyramid gallery – York
2006 Master’s degree show – University of the West of England – Bristol
Rising Stars – Studio Fusion – Oxo Tower – London
Teaching 2023 – Prem Tinsulanonda International School – Artist Residency – Thailand
2018 – Drawing Workshops – MIEP School – Mawlamyine – Myanmar
2016 & 2017 – Textural Play – West Dean College – Chichester
2015 – Residency workshops – The Observatory – Lymington
2013 & 2014 – Texture & Surface – Hawkwood College – Stroud
2013 & 2008/09 – Gifted & Talented Workshops – University West of England – Bristol
2009 & 2010 – Residency workshops – VARC – Northumberland
2007- Enamel & clay workshops to young mothers – UWE – Bristol