Dawn Cole is an artist and independent curator who works from her studio in Birchington, Kent. Dawn graduated from the University of Kent in 2005 with a BA (Hons) Fine Art.
For the past 3 years Dawn’s practice as an artist has focused on working from the archive of First World War nurse, Clarice Spratling. The small family archive contains Clarice’s diary and photographs, both relating to her time serving in France, a handwritten notebook containing knitted and crochet lace patterns and many other personal documents. Often using pattern and text, Dawn’s practice focuses on research and immediate responses. Exploring ideas of propaganda, memory, recollection and time.
Dawn works primarily as a printmaker using a range of techniques including; solar plate etch, lino etch, drypoint and monoprint
Dawn exhibits throughout the UK and her work from this archive has been shown at her solo exhibition ‘Reading Between the Lines’ in 2009, and in 2010 Dawn was selected to exhibit at ‘Out of Print’ at South Hill Park Berkshire. In August 2011 Dawn will be taking the exhibition to Berck Sur Mer, France for a month long exhibition and in 2012 she has been invited to participate in the 6th International Kyoto Hanga 2012 International Print Exhibition in Kyoto, Japan. At the International Print Biennale 2011 Dawn was awarded the V&A Print Prize
Dawn has completed 3 public art commissions for the University of Kent, Kent and Canterbury Hospital and Ashford Town Partnership and was lead artist in 2006 at Ashford Visual Arts and Architecture Festival working with art students from the UK, France and Germany to produce a collaborative work.
In 2009 Dawn also worked on a collaborative public arts project ‘Hole in the Wall’ which was shortlisted for the Kent Cultural Baton.
In 2009 Dawn founded ‘Pushing Print’, an arts organisation based in Margate dedicated to Printmaking. Dawn has developed this organisation in collaboration with businesses and artists based in Margate Old Town and has recently established links with the London based Printroom Gallery. Pushing Print organises an annual, month long event that includes an open submission exhibition, which in 2010 featured the work of 62 local, national and international artists, the community Giant Print event and an education programme of talks, workshops and demonstrations all relating to print making. In 2010 Pushing Print attracted in excess of 2000 visitors.
Dawn has worked for many years as an editioner for artist printmaker Brenda Hartill and has taught on many of her residential workshops.