Elspeth Lamb
Artist Statement
My work begins with a fascination with nature and natural processes in all its complexity and richness. I draw inspiration from the unpredictable and wild side of nature, combined with a hybrid of images from many sources- botanical illustration, the Baroque, Victorian decorative arts. The ambiguity of the forms is important, whether or not they are in the process of becoming, of evolving and multiplying, or beginning to break down and decay.
Previously I have been working on an experimental series of lithographs entitled ‘Les Fleurs du Mal’ named after the poems of the 19th century French poet Baudelaire. These images are not intended to be narrative in any sense, but take on flower-like forms and are inspired to some degree by the Dutch Vanitas school of painting. They are printed from stone and aluminium photolitho plate and sometimes incorporate elements of Japanese colle papers.
I have recently extended this idea further to produce images of ‘cloned’ flowers which graft together disparate plants to produce unnatural species: a reaction against the labelling and classification of Victorian botanists.
Recently I have been working in collage and watercolour referencing Baudelaire’s writings on Ballet.
Research and Awards
2025 Creative Scotland Bursary to research in Japan
2020 Creative Scotland Bridging Bursary
2019 The Victor Murphy Trust Award to research in Japan
2019 The Sean Connery Educational Trust Fund
2014 Gillies Award Royal Scottish Academy.
CS Professional Development Award to travel to the University of New Mexico USA to study at the Tamarind Institute of Lithography.
Marshall Trust Award to travel to a conference in Japan : keynote presenter.
2013 Purchase Award the Royal Scottish Academy Edinburgh
2011 Marshall Trust Award Glasgow to present a paper to the First International Mokuhanga Conference in Japan
Hope Scott Research Award to travel to Japan and curate an exhibition in Edinburgh during the International Festival of Arts.
2010 Sasakawa Foundation of Japan Great Britain Award
2005 Birgit Skiold Award
Gillies Award Royal Scottish Academy
2004 Scottish Arts Council Award
Anglo-Daiwa Foundation of Great Britain Award
Glasgow City Council Cultural Grant “In Search of Whistler”
2002 Carnegie Award
Scottish Arts Council Award
Whitehill Trust Award
Hope Scott Trust Award
Artist in Residence and Visiting Lecturer at the following:
2025 Research Artist in Residence MI-Lab Echizen Studios Japan to further research into paper making and Sumi print methods.
2016 Research Artist in Residence MI-Lab Fujikawaguchiko studios and Ogawa Papermill Japan
2015 Artist in Residence MI-Lab Fujikawaguchiko studios Japan.
2014 Artist in residence Tamarind Institute of Lithography, University on New Mexico, USA.
2010-15 North Glasgow College (now Kelvin College) lectures, tutorials and workshops
2011 Northumbria University Newcastle lectures and tutorials
2009 Artist in Residence at the Joan Miro Foundation Cala Major Spain
2008/09 Workshops with N.Ayrshire schools Joan Miro Foundation Cala Major Spain (led and delivered)
2008 Artist in Residence in Fife travelling Art Gallery (FCAC) visiting schools and colleges (3 months)
2008 Glasgow School of Art tutorials
2006 McMaster University Ontario Canada tutorials and lecture
2005 The Print Studio Hamilton Ontario Canada artist in residence
Plovdiv Art Workshops Bulgaria artist in residence
St.Michael’s Print Studio St.John’s Newfoundland, artist in residence,
Grafikan Arts Hjorring Denmark artist in residence, Awagami Mill Tokushima Japan artist in residence.
2003 Gracefield Art Centre Dumfries artist in residence Nagasawa Japan Papermaking residency
2002 Nagasawa Art Park International residency in paper arts Awaji Island Japan
2000 Nagasawa Art Park International residency Awaji Island Japan
International Print Biennales (Selected artist) and Conferences (since 2000)
2011 First International Mokuhanga Conference Kyoto and Awaji Japan : Presented a paper ‘Between Wood and Ink’
2014 Second International Mokuhanga Conference delivered a keynote speech : The importance of Paper in the PrintedImage..
2003 Kochi Japan (selected)
2000 Cracow Poland selected artist ISBN 83-912205-5-9
2000 Honolulu USA
Administrative and Community Contributions
2014 Presented a keynote speech at the second Mokuhanga Conference in Tokyo Japan : The importance of Paper in the Role of the Printed Image.
2011-14 Exhibitions Committee member Royal Scottish Academy Edinburgh
Curated an international exhibition of 40 Mokuhanga prints for the Edinburgh International Festival held at the Royal Scottish Academy
2010 New Directions Committee Royal Scottish Academy
2005 Elected RSA (Member of the Royal Scottish Academy, previously elected ARSA member in 1991)
1992 Elected RGI (Member of the Royal Glasgow Institute)
Solo Exhibitions since 2000
2018 Re-Imagining Rita and Masataka Taketsuru Kirkintilloch co-curated space, new wing, Town Hall.
2016 Hyne Awa: Exhibition of paperworks and prints, Member’s Gallery, Royal Scottish Academy Edinburgh
2011 Glasgow House for an Art Lover : Works on Paper.
2010 N.Ayrshire Harbour Arts Centre: Works from the Joan Miro residency Spain
2006 RSA Edinburgh The Mound : featured member show lower galleries: works on paper, prints
2004 Joan Hughson Gallery Glasgow : prints and artist’s book.
2004 New York USA : AIR Gallery Chelsea, Nagasawa Cantrips : digital images, prints livre d’artiste and installation
2003 North Uist Scotland Taigh Chearsabhagh Arts Centre Nagasawa Cantrips prints, paperworks and book.
2003 Aberdeen Peacock Visual Arts : Prints and livre d’artiste
2000 Glasgow Print Studio Gallery installation “Delta” prints, paperworks and installations
Group Exhibitions since 2000 (selected)
2025 Lights Across the Water , Academicians Gallery RSA Invited artists
2024 Echizen 2024 Japan Juried exhibition of Mokuhanga Prints.
2022 Assembled Academicians’ Gallery RSA
2021 Summer Exhibition selected artist Royal Academy of Arts London
2021 Rare Prints and Monotypes Academicians’ Gallery RSA
2020 Academicians in Isolation Academicians’ Gallery RSA
2019 Our Infinite Land Academicians’ Gallery RSA
2019 Imprint Selected artist Academicians Gallery RSA Edinburgh
2019 Botanicals a selection of Academicians work An Talla Solais Gallery Ullapool Argyllshire
2019 AVIARY a selection of academicians work, members’ gallery RSA Edinburgh
2018 Arts Chiyoda 3331 – selected works from Fujkawagichiko artists.
2017 CUT group show of printmaking, selected artist at the Glasgow Print Studio
2000-24 Royal Scottish Academy 2000 - present day Members Summer show and RSA Winter Open.
2014 Arts Chiyoda 3331 TOKYO Japan An exhibition of International Print Workshops and Studios.
2014 Tokyo University Japan, Exhibition of Mokuhanga Prints
2000-13 Royal Glasgow Institute
2013 Glasgow Print Studio : invited artist 40/40 Exhibiton with Barbara Rae, Adrian Wisniewski, John Byrne etc.
2012 CCA (Centre for Contemporary Arts) Glasgow 21 Revolutions exhibition invited artist by Glasgow Women’s
Library (catalogue no. 978-0-9522273-3-5).
2012 Glasgow Print Studio An Cnoc selected artist
2000-12 London Contemporary Art Fair
2011 Dialogue and Dialect KYOTOJapan selected artist
2011 In Japan The Royal Scottish Academy invited artist
2007 Stone Plate Grease Water MOMA Wales and touring invited artist
2004 Kochi-chi Art Gallery Group exhibit Mokuhanga Prints
2003 5th Kochi International Art exhibit Japan selected artist
2004 Pressing Forward St Andrews University, Crawford Arts Centre invited artist
2006-10Glasgow International Art Fair selected artist
2000 Nagasawa printers Kobe Museum JAPAN, Shizuka Hall Tsuna.
2000 Big Prints curated by Barbara Elam Gallery Rockford Art Museum Illinois USA selected artist
2000 ECA @ MIRO Miro Foundation Gallery Cala Major SPAIN Staff of the Edinburgh College of Art curated exhibit
2000 Brought to Book Collins Gallery Glasgow Invited artist
2000 Ishi Gami No Oka Graphic exhibition of prints , JAPAN invited artist
2000 Printmakers exhibition Honolulu USA selected artist
2000 Cracow POLAND International Print Biennale
Publications
2006 Author of Papermaking for Printmakers published by Bloomsbury Books A&C Black London ISBN
0-7136-6587-4
2000 Essay Contributor to Tamarind : 40 years published by the University of New Mexico Press ISBN
no. 1-800-249-7737
2003 Nagasawa Cantrips : a Livre d’artiste co-published with Peacock Visual Arts Studio Aberdeen
Public Collections (selected)
Leeds Art Gallery
Bradford Art Gallery and Museums The MAG Collection UK
Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museums Glasgow The Joan y Pilar Miro Foundation Spain
Massachussetts University USA The British Council London
Portland Art Galleries Oregon USA The Japanese Consular Collection London
The University of New Mexico USA Strathclyde University
