Pauline produces mainly two-dimensional work, including painting, mixed media, print and light-box images. Digital montages, up to large-format in scale, are created by combining drawing and print, photographs and micrographs. The work reflects upon the inter-dependence and inter-relationship of life forms on our planet and our place within this.
She studied painting and printmaking at the Slade School of Fine Art, University College, London, including postgraduate studies in printmaking. She followed with part-time teaching posts and a lectureship in BA Design, Anglia Polytechnic University. She lives and works in Suffolk, England.
During 2002-3 a research residency at the School of Biological Sciences, University of Cambridge funded by an Awards for Artists and a Six of the Best award [Arts Council East], enabled the development of work through microscopy and digital imaging, culminating in an exhibition of large-scale digital prints, light-box works and installations at the Cambridge University Botanic Garden, Bringing into Focus.
In 2004 Pauline began working on Cardio – Active, with the support of a grant from the Wellcome Trust, at the University of Cambridge in the Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience. The project explores the form and structure of the human heart and changes that occur when normal function ceases, and the foxglove plant, which has been used for 250 years in the treatment of certain heart conditions. Works include digital montages, which combine the structures of both the heart and the foxglove, produced as large-scale prints and photographic images also digital animation and light-box works.
There followed a further project that highlights the importance of medicinal plants and the need for their conservation worldwide. Plants in Mind – Memory Matters explores the relationship of the snowdrop plant and the brain. Galantamine, a chemical produced by the plant, is being used to restore the level of the neurotransmitter, acetylcholine, which is lost in those with memory failure. Works to date include prints of digital photomontages combining details of brain tissue and the flower of the snowdrop.
Since 2017, Pauline’s latest work has been a collaboration with the American poet Christine Stewart Nuñez.
Solo & Small Group Exhibitions.
| 2016 | Woman Working from Women: A Poetry Ekphrasis. South Dakota Art Museum. Brookings.SD, USA.. |
| 2016 | Plants in Mind – Memory Matters (selected works). Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge. (solo) |
| 2015 | Plants in Mind – Memory Matters (selected works). John Radcliffe Hospital NHS Trust. Oxford. (solo) |
| 2014 – 2015 | Plants in Mind – Memory Matters: Ciphers and Signifiers. Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge. (solo) |
| 2013 – 2014 | Plants in Mind – Memory Matters, THE SNOWDROP: Spring Hopes for the Ageing HUMAN BRAIN. Institute of Neuroscience, Newcastle University. (solo) |
| 2011 | Taking a Closer View. Gateway Gallery, The Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh. (solo) |
| 2011 | Cardio – Active (selected works). Cardiology Department, Milton Keynes Hospital NHS Trust. (solo) |
| 2010 – 2011 | Cardio – Active. A Different View of Treating the Heart: Moving from Digitalis to Digital The International Centre for Life. Newcastle-upon-Tyne. (solo) |
| 2010 | Paintings, Prints and Sculpture 2000 – 2010. The Cut Arts Centre, Halesworth, Suffolk. (solo) |
| 2009 | Cardio – Active: The Heart and the Foxglove. BioCity Nottingham [Bioscience Centre]. (solo) |
| 2009 | Cardio – Active. Milton Keynes Hospital NHS Trust. (solo) |
| 2009 | Cardio – Active. Papworth Hospital NHS Trust, Cambridge. (solo) |
| 2007 | The Secret Life of Plants. Bedford Museum. Joint exhibition with Aimee Lax MA RCA Ceramics. |
| 2006 – 2009 | Cardio – Active (selected works). Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge. (solo) |
| 2006 | Microscience 2006. The Royal Microscopical Society. ExCel London. (solo) |
| 2005 | Angels in the Studio: The Women of the Slade. The Higgins, Bedford. |
| 2004 – 2005 | Looking Beyond the Visible BioCity Nottingham [Bioscience Centre]. (solo) |
| 2004 | Modern British Abstracts. Galerie Last, Zurich, Switzerland. |
| 2003 – 2004 | Prints and Drawings. Papworth Hospital NHS Trust. (solo) |
| 2003 | Bringing into Focus. Cambridge University Botanic Garden. Cambridge. (solo) |
| 2002 | Modern British Abstracts. Galerie Last, Zurich, Switzerland. |
| 2001 | Pauline Aitken: Works made between 1998 to 2001. Hay Gallery, Colchester Institute, |
| 2001 | Blueten – Fragmente. Kultur-Spycher, Meikirch, Bern, Switzerland. (solo) |
| 2000 | Elm Hill Contemporary Art. Norwich. From 1999 to 2007, regular small group exhibitions. |
Selected Group & Mixed Exhibitions.
| 2017 | PRISM 8 Prism Print International. The IXth International Engraving Exhibition, Cremona, Italy. |
| 2016 | Prism 7 Prism Print International The Spodki Gallery, Bialystok, Poland.(group) |
| 2016 | Prism Print International, Changsha Museum, Hunan, China.(group) |
| 2016 | Prism 6 Prism Print International Clifford Chance Gallery. Canary Wharf, London.(group) |
| 2015 | Distinct Impressions: Prism 5 London – Identity and the International Print Artist .The Embassy Tea Gallery, Bankside, London.(group) |
| 2015 | Impact 9 Conference Exhibition, Prism Print International China Academy of Art, Hangzhou, China. |
| 2012 | Gainsborough’s House Printmakers. Gainsborough’s House, Sudbury, Suffolk. |
| 2011 | Crossing Centuries: Works by Women Artists 1830 – 2000. ACS Gallery, London. |
| 2007/8/9 | Jill Bishop Contemporary Art. Suffolk. |
| 2007 | Tradition Aside, The Strang Print Room, University College London. |
| 2006 | Too Much Photography, Madlab Gallery, Columbus, Ohio, U.S. |
| 2004 | Open Print Exhibition, Royal West of England Academy. Bristol. |
| 2003 – 2004 | Visions of Science, The Science Museum, London and The Royal Society, London and UK travelling exhibition. Sponsored by Novatis and The Daily Telegraph. |
| 2003 – 2004 | Art, Age & Gender Foundation for Women’s Art,UK travelling exhibition [including Usher Gallery, Lincoln; Corn Exchange, Newbury and The New Greenham Art Galleries. |
| 2002 – 2003 | Visions and Science, The Royal Society, London and UK travelling exhibition. Sponsored by Novartis and The Daily Telegraph |
| 2002 | Art, Age & Gender; Foundation for Women’s Art. Orleans House Gallery,London. |
| 2002 | The College Art Collections. Printmaking at the Slade 1960 – 1984. The Strang Print Room,University College London. |
| Exhibitions Related to the Year of the Artist Residency at Chasestead Ltd Letchworth. | |
| 2001 | Chasestead Ltd. Letchworth Museum and Art Gallery. Spirella Building, Letchworth Business and Conference Centre. |
| 2000 | Buchanan Ingersoll, Tower 42, International Financial Centre, London. |
Awards |
|
| 2009 | Grants for the Arts award, the National Lottery through Arts Council England. |
| 2004 | The Wellcome Trust, sciart Research and Development award. |
| 2002 | Novartis / The Daily Telegraph; Visions of Science Photographic Awards. Science as Art. 2nd prize. |
| 2001 | East England Arts / Anglia TV; ‘Six of the Best: Best New Idea.‘ |
| 2001 | Arts & Business: ‘Small Business Initiative’. |
| 2001 | Commissions East and East England Arts: ‘Awards for Artists’. |
| 2000 | Arts Council England : ‘The Year of the Artist’. Residency at Chasestead Ltd, Prototype Engineering, Letchworth. |
Collections.
Arts Council Great Britain.
Bradford City Art Gallery.
Christchurch Mansion Museum & Gallery, Ipswich.
Graphotek, Berlin.
Hangzhou Art Museum, China.
Norwich Castle Museum & Galleries.
Slade School of Fine Art.
South Dakota Art Museum, USA.
The Government Art Collection.
University College, London.
University of Southampton.
Victoria & Albert Museum.
Worcester College, Oxford.
corporate.
Anglian Water.
BioCity Nottingham.
Chasestead Ltd.
Papworth Hospital NHS Trust.
Bedfordshire, Nottingham and Suffolk Education Authorities, Dulwich, Greenwich and Newark Borough Councils and also University, School and Private Collections in the UK, Europe and USA.
A full CV listing exhibitions, awards, lectureships, residencies, consultancy work and course leaderships before 2000 is currently being compiled and can be sent on request.
Represented by Jill Bishop Contemporary Art, www.jillbishopcontemporaryart.co.uk