dawn idalia
this is what i see...
2025 Shortlisted for the Royal Academy Summer show
2025 The Old Parcels Office, Scarborough
2024 The Harley Open, Welbeck Estate, Notts
2024 The New English Art Club, Mall Galleries
2024 The Tarpey Open, Castle Donnington
2024 Refresh, Tarpey Gallery, Castle Donnington
2023 The Tarpey Open, Castle Donnington
2022 The Harley Open, Welbeck Estate, Notts
2019 Thoresby Gallery, Notts
2019 2022 & 2023 Notts Open Studios
Exhibitions prior to full time studio practice:
2016 The Place, Sherwood Art Week, Nottm
2013 The Beetroot Tree, Derby
carer career break
2008 Harding House Gallery, Lincoln
2007 The Old Library, Mansfield
2007 Room at The Top, Waterstones, Nottm
2006 The National Centre for Craft & Design, Sleaford, Lincs
2005 The Shire Hall Gallery, Stafford
2005 The City Gallery, Leics
2005 The Nottingham Open
2004 Haus Art, Southwell, Notts
2003 St Michaels Church, Lincoln
2003 Sam Scorer Gallery, Lincoln
2024 Tarpey Gallery ‘Exhibiting Year’ artist
2018 Print residency at Pop Press, Nottm
2019 Public space mural design commission ‘The Becks’ project, Notts
2016 The Drawing Prize, Sherwood Art Week
carer career break
2008 -2010 The Mighty Creatives, Lead Creative Consultant 2008-2010
2007 -2009 Arts Council England, Creative Partnerships Change Agent
2008 Public space sculpture commission, West Lindsey DC’s HQ, Lincs
2006 -2008 ACE Funded, Lincolnshire Youth Arts Network Co-ordinator
2007 Arts Council England Grant & Arts Award Assessor
2006 Public space sculpture commission: ‘Identity’ for NCC's, County Hall
2005 Creative Enterprise Grant (Connect UK)
Education and CPD
2025 Ongoing, University College London - Culture, Health and Wellbeing
2025 Art For Wellbeing Course, Medley
2021 Slade School of Art (Drawing ‘Short Course’)
carer career break
2013 WEC Advanced Drawing
2008 Action Learning Programme as a Change Agent - ACE funded
2005 OCN Life Drawing
2005 BA (Hons) Fine Art (to level 2)
2003 BTEC Foundation Art & Design 2003
2000 BA (Hons) 1st Class, Business & Management
(by part time study whilst in full time work)
exhibitions
awards, public commissions & appointments
In more detail...
I am a fine artist and designer. I was born in north Nottinghamshire England, where I still live and work. The route to becoming a full time artist is rarely easy, in my case it took 30 years from the age of 18.
A working class girl in a 1980's mining village, thankfully with great parents who provided long walks in the woods and day trips to the awe inspiring landscapes of the Peak District. My affinity for the natural environment was set...
My childhood involved a lot of illness and not much money but it was rich in time, time to develop a life long love of drawing and time to become very resourceful with materials...
My secondary school arranged a paradigm shifting visit to a university (Trent Polytechnic as it was then called) and I discovered a thing called an art and design degree! Unfortunately the same school didn't allow girls to study technical drawing, I didn't get very far, but the seed was planted...
Like so many, I got a 'proper job', and lots of them. By 2003 I was a senior education manager leading the national co-ordination of the NPQH programme for headteachers.
During my time in the world of education, I was always keen to help other disadvantaged young people: as part of my business and management degree I conducted research into education business partnerships; I started similar schemes in school; and I was part of a small team of governors that secured funding for an award winning new secondary school in the county.
However, the art dream had never died, so I took the plunge and left that career to enrol onto a Foundation Course in Art and Design, and then a BA in Fine Art at Lincoln University. I've then grabbed every bit of interesting professional development that I can lay my hands on.
I've had the privilege of combining my years in education & management with art, and applying that mix to youth arts work and arts development in ‘hard to reach’ communities and schools across Notts and Lincs (funded mainly by Arts Council England).
I'm really proud to have worked with some fabulous cultural partners and some unforgettable young people. All of what has gone before now informs and enriches my work.
During my time as a consultant I was also fortunate enough to have my sculptural work commissioned by various public bodies and my art work bought by private clients.
In the last few years its been tremendously fulfilling to focus more time on my own arts practice and set up a studio at the beautiful Thoresby Park.
I'm now on a very determined mission to make up for lost time and make the best work I can imagine.