BIO
William Cotterill is a contemporary British artist living and working in Bristol and London, United Kingdom. He studied at Central Saint Martins, UAL, where he has subsequently guest lectured.
The artist creates paintings with a deeply charged sense of presence. Drawing from a rich tapestry of techniques and visual lexicons from contemporary and ancient times, Cotterill forges his own strange and mysterious mythology of symbols and structures.
The legacy of mid-twentieth century Expressionism, especially Matter Painting and Tachisme, are present in the works. Cotterill’s paintings are firmly grounded in the materiality of painting as object.
Interrupted layers, obsessive pattern and fragmented forms twist into a deeply idiosyncratic iconography. The paintings often appear as cracked monuments or shrines; explorations into themes of uncertainty and change.
He has been featured in a number of shows including ‘Hello, Goodbye’, Central Saint Martins, Halcyon, Art Jericho and ‘Conspiracies’, Lewisham Arthouse. His first solo show ‘Tangle of Matter and Ghost’ was curated by Jenny Blyth (Saatchi Gallery curator 1990-2002). He has had a residency solo show at SHSK and the show ‘Maps For Loners’ at 2SR Art Space, Oxford. His last solo show ‘Sudden Portals’ was at Cornerstone Art Centre, Oxfordshire. His work is in international private collections as well as the Central Saint Martins Museum and Study Collection.
Selected Solo Exhibitions:
2021, Sudden Portals, Cornerstone Arts Centre, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom
2019, Stranger Paintings, St Helen & St Katherine’s, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom
2016, Maps For Loners, 2SR Art Space, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom
2012, Tangle of Matter & Ghost, Art Jericho, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom
Selected Group Exhibitions:
2024, O.S.D 4, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom
2023, Metajoy, 2SR Art Space, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom
2022, O.S.D 3, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom
2020, Cornerstone At Home, Cornerstone Arts Centre, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom
2019, Surface & Skin, 2SR Art Space, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom
2018, Conspiracies, Lewisham Art House, London, United Kingdom
2017, After The Flood, 2SR Art Space, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom
2016, Somewhat Liminal, 2SR Art Space, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom
2015, Summer Exhibition, Oxford Town Hall, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom
2014, O.S.D 2, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom
2013, London Art Fair, Jenny Blyth Fine Art, London, United Kingdom
2012, New Perspectives, Branca, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom
2012, O.S.D 1, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom
2011, Halcyon, Art Jericho, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom
2011, Art In Woodstock, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom
2011, Hello, Goodbye, Lethaby Gallery, Central Saint Martins, London, United Kingdom
2011, Elms Lester Painting Room, London, United Kingdom
2011, The Old Truman Brewery, London, United Kingdom
2011, Back Hill, Central Saint Martins, London, United Kingdom
Collections:
University of The Arts Collection, Central Saint Martins, London, United Kingdom
Residencies:
2019, St Helen & St Katherine, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom
Press & Publications:
Anne James, ‘Haunting exhibition’, Oxford Mail, 2012