Statement:
Walking around the allotment is central to my creative process. I’m drawn to the almost hidden community tucked away within the city — patches of wild growth, a mix of cultivated areas, full of veg and flowers and partially overgrown plots, some with ramshackle sheds; plot holders demonstrating a make do and mend attitude with ‘Heath Robinson’ type drainage systems and fences. I observe how these places are used, forgotten, or transformed, and how they reflect broader environmental cycles. The resilience of weeds, the constant rhythmic cycle of new life and decay, nature’s patterns, textures and colours — these are what I’m interested in recording.
I'm a multi-disciplinary artist working from my studio in Plymouth, Devon. My practice is rooted in printmaking, where I explore a range of processes: I work across collagraph, monoprint, and etching, often combining these with digital techniques, mixed media and hand stitching. Drawing from my sketchbooks and photographs, I create laser-cut printing plates from my own imagery, blending traditional and modern processes to produce richly layered, hand-pulled prints. I often reuse ‘waste’ prints to create artists’ books, sculptural forms, and 3D experiments.
Bio:
Viv Spencer is a printmaking artist based in Plymouth, Devon. Originally from Wiltshire, she relocated to Devon in 2021 after a long and rewarding career in secondary education, including spells teaching at Gordonstoun and Westonbirt schools. She completed an MA in Printmaking at Arts University, Plymouth (2018–2020), and now Viv works from a spacious home studio, where she enjoys experimenting with materials and methods. Her work is process-led and explores themes of nature, transience, and overlooked urban wildness based around her allotment in Central Park.
In addition to her art practice, Viv works part-time as a Specialist Mentor (SM-ASC) and Study Skills Tutor (SS-ASC), supporting neurodiverse students at Arts University Plymouth and the University of Plymouth—a role she finds both fulfilling and meaningful.
Viv is a member of the Devonport Guildhall Print Studio, CAMP CIC (Contemporary Art Membership Platform), A-N and Visual Arts South West (VASW). She is currently enrolled on the Professional Landscape programme at Newlyn School of Art, Cornwall.
C.V.
Plymouth, Devon, UK
Education:
2018-20: Plymouth College of Art, MA in Printmaking: passed with Distinction
2000-01: Bath Spa UC: PGDip Interactive Multimedia: Passed with Distinction
1982-1984: Wolverhampton Polytechnic: B.Ed. Hons. Art and Design
1979-1982: Cert. Ed Teaching Certificate: Art and Design (Dudley College of Education)
Group Exhibitions:
2026: Professional Landscape programme, Newlyn School of Art: final group show at Tremenheere Gallery in September 2026
2024: RE Small and Mighty: ‘Climber’ print selected for exhibition in September 2024
2024: Hatherleigh Festival, Printers Paradise: Camp-membership PrintKin group show, July
2024: Green Hill Arts Open, Mortonhampstead: ‘Walking in the Park’ sewn and painted artist’s book
2024: Walking Women at Falmouth Art Gallery, March- 27 April: 3D printed plaster cubes
2023: Artmill Gallery 400 Exhibition, Feb. - March 2023
2022: Artmill Gallery Christmas Show, Peverell, Plymouth, Nov. 22- Jan. 2023
2022: How Long? Exhibition and events programme by CAMP artists at Vacancy Atlas, Plymouth, Nov. 2022
2022: One Minute! Film Festival - hosted by Maketank at Positive Light Projects, Exeter, Sept. 2022
2022: Green Hill Arts Open, Moretonhampstead - April/July - ‘Dahlias 3’ digital print selected and hung
2021: Masters Summer show, PCA, Plymouth and a group show at the Salthouse Gallery, St.Ives in September 2021;
Open Studios Krowji, Dec. 2021
2021: Online: Newlyn Gallery ‘Lost Exhibitions’ https://www.instagram.com/p/CLlwqBbL1tT/
2020: Took part in the John Howard annual show at The Poly, Falmouth (Nov. 2020)
2020: Ironbridge Fine Arts Gallery Winter exhibition; (due to Covid19, Open Studios Cornwall was
cancelled as was our MA Show)
2019: Ironbridge Fine Arts Gallery Winter exhibition; Open Studios Cornwall in May
2018: RE Masters Screen and Stone: ‘Seaweed v13’ selected and hung
2017: Foto5 group show of gum bichromate and cyanotype prints, Bristol
2016: Group show of work at Westonbirt School
2013: Press Gang, Brewery Barn, Norton St. Philip, Bath
2013: Bath Open Print [1 print hung]
2013: RWA Open Exhibition [1 print hung]