About
I’m a visual artist and researcher who mainly works in printmaking to explore current social and political issues—especially the tension between power and powerlessness. I’m interested in how we, both as individuals and as a society, learn about and engage with difficult knowledge, so that we are empowered rather than overwhelmed. My work is grounded in reading, research, and community involvement.
I’m currently working in two main areas. The first focuses on civil liberties, especially how we define and value privacy. We are in the middle of a major shift in how privacy is understood. With growing surveillance—both online and in person—I’m interested in how we are responding, whether we care, and what this means for our future human rights. I began this work with Brave New World (2019). I’m continuing it in collaboration with Leonie Bradley on FaceScreen – Routes of Disconsent (ongoing), and in my own practice with Nothing to Hide, Nothing to Fear (ongoing).
My second area of work is gender-based violence (GBV). GBV stems from gender inequality, the abuse of power, and harmful behaviours that society has normalised. Much GBV happens under the radar, silenced through a culture of shame and victim blaming. I aim to make trauma-sensitive, thought-provoking work that opens up conversation about these difficult and often silenced issues. This work draws on community involvement (Exeter Women’s Refuge 2013–2014; Devon Rape Crisis volunteer 2021–2024) and research (PhD thesis and forthcoming publications). My work in this area includes, The Last Resident (2014), To Have and To Hold and The Refuge Manifesto (both 2015), Reclaim (2017) and Hidden/Seen (2022). Current work includes Spoils (2025), Portrait Keyrings (2024) and Worthy/Unworthy (2025).
I have a Masters in Multidisciplinary Printmaking (distinction) from the University of the West of England, Bristol, UK (2018). My PhD, awarded 2024, was a deep dive into ‘trauma-informed’ artist practice and the potential of collage for both trauma-informed practice and research methodology. My thesis can be found here. Funded by the South West and Wales Doctoral Training Partnership, Arts and Humanities Research Board.
I offer training in trauma-informed collage both with community groups and as a research method. Please email me catherine[at]catherinecartwright.co.uk to enquire.
Exhibitions
Small but Mighty, Bankside Gallery, Sept 2025
Uncommon Ground, Black Swan Arts, Sept 2025
On & Off, F Block Gallery, UWE Feb 2025
Through/Line, Maltings Taphouse, Newton Abbot, Jul 2024
Hospital Rooms, MAKE South West, Nov 2022
Brave New World, MakeTank, Exeter, UK (solo) Nov 2019
In The Moment 54, The Gallery, London, Mar 2019
Print: A Catalyst for Social Change Bury Art Museum, Bury Feb-Apr 2019
Making Peace National Memorial Arboretum, Lichfield Nov-Mar 2019
Royal West of England Academy Open Bristol Oct-Nov 2018
Collaborative Artists’ Books, IMPACT 10, Santander, Spain, 2018
New Prints 2018 International Print Center, New York Jul-Sept 2018
Strong Women: 16 Days of Action CoLab, Exeter Nov 2017
The Masters: One Off Bankside Gallery, London Nov 2017
Center for Book Arts Printmaking & Animation, New York Jul-Aug 2017
The Masters: Etching Bankside Gallery, London Nov 2016
Five Women Printmakers White Moose Gallery, Devon Apr-May 2015
16 Days of Action (solo) Brook Gallery, Exeter Nov-Dec 2015
To Still the Raging Sea (solo) Exeter Phoenix, Devon Jun 2014
Arab British Centre London Mar 2014
Living On (solo) Riverside Gallery, Richmond upon Thames Sept-Nov 2013
Encuentro 2013 La Habana, Cuba Oct 2013
Pushing Print Margate Gallery, Margate, Kent Oct 2013
BITE Mall Galleries, London Sept 2012
Commissions, Awards, Residencies
Art Lab (w Leonie Bradley) June 2025
Hospital Rooms, Torbay Hospital 2022
AHRC Doctoral Funding, 2019-2024
Project Urgency,University of Exeter 2019
National Memorial Arboretum, Artist Residency 2018
The Cause, printmaking animation residency with Dreadnought SW 2018
Australian National University, Canberra Visiting Artist Residency, 2017
Culture Data Projector, Fabians Film 2015
Arts Council England Grants for the Arts, Refuge Manifesto 2015
Exeter City Council Art Projects Refuge Manifesto 2015
Ancient Sunlight: The Book of Justice, Kaleider 2014-2015
Round and Round You Turn Me, Carousel Project and University of Exeter, 2013-2014
How Clean are Your Clothes? Arts & Culture, University of Exeter, 2014
Arts Council England Grants for the Arts, Exeter’s Women Refuge, 2013
Oxygen, Dreadnought South West, 2013
Politics in Print Devon Records Office 2010
Academic Publications
Smith, L., Cartwright, C., Brennan-Lister, G., Brooks, E., Collins, F., Colson, S., … Munnery, C. (2024). Zine Ecologies: Creative Environmentalisms and Literary Activisms. GeoHumanities, 10(1), 18–41. https://doi.org/10.1080/2373566X.2023.2267096
Hasbun, S., Carney, R., Matthews, H., Cartwright, C., Osborne, G., Gittner, J., Villette, A. (2022) The application of creative practice as a means of disrupting or re-defining the dynamics of power in, with or for different communities. Journal for Artistic Research, 27. 27. https://doi.org/10.22501/jar.1264307
Talks (selected)
Justice & Violence Research Group UoE, presentation June 2025
International Creative Research Methods conference Sept 2023
Care-ful Museums presentation Sept 2023
Health Innovation, North East webinar March 2023
Devon Trauma Network webinar May 2022
IMPACT 2021 presentation Apr 2021
IMPACT 2018 presentation Sept 2018
Printers Unite paper presentation & exhibition June 2018
Brook Gallery Artist Talk, Nov 2015
Visual Arts South West conference Nov 2014
Exeter Phoenix Artist Talk, June 2014
The Arab British Centre Feb 2014
The Mosaic Rooms Jan 2014