ABOUT

HEATHER UPTON is an artist and printmaking tutor. She trained for her first degree in Fine Art and Contemporary Dance at Brighton, later gaining a Masters in Fine Art Printmaking at Winchester School of Art. She was awarded First Prize in the World Art College Vision Exchange in 2007, exhibited in Seoul, South Korea.

Heather has exhibited her work in solo and group exhibitions and is currently Head of Printmaking at South Hill Park Arts Centre in Berkshire, teaching and supporting local artists. She has had three exhibitions at the Centre - the most recent was “ECLECTIC ENERGETIC FORMS” which ran from November 2023 to January 2024.

“Whilst studying Fine Art and Dance (Expressive Arts), at Brighton Polytechnic, now Brighton University, I unfortunately injured my back and had to rethink my future of being a dance performer! I remember the smell of the printing inks wafting from the printmaking studio at the Grand Parade building and wondering what went on in there, but didn’t get the chance to find out. Years later, I ended up working as a P.A. secretary at Waddington Graphics Gallery in Cork Street, London (now Cristea-Roberts Gallery). I was exposed to stunning early 20th century graphic works including Picasso, Matisse, Miro, Kandinsky and Klee. Also a wide selection of contemporary artists such as Jim Dine, Howard Hodgkin and Frank Stella, amongst many others. I was very inspired by such great works of art on paper. I moved on from Waddington Galleries and life took me along different avenues, but when I was struck with debilitating Repetitive Strain Injury in my type exhausted hands, I had to get out of admin. Whilst recovering, I discovered the Printmaking department at Kensington and Chelsea College. A few years of loving it all, I was encouraged to go for a Masters Degree. I completed a two year part-time M.A. with the wonderful David Ferry as my professor at Winchester School of Art. I’ve been hooked on printmaking ever since!”