About

Beverley Irving

I graduated with BA(Hons) Illustration from Cardiff School of Art and Design in 2015. During my final year I found my voice and interest and created my illustrations using digital collage while writing my dissertation on the timeless quality of Hannah Hoch. I had ambitions of working in editorial design with houses that had the same political leaning as myself. 

Soon after graduation I moved back to Liverpool and balanced my day job with working on my portfolio. Feeling that there was something missing in my work, I applied to embark on my MA at Manchester School of Art. Here I have grown more researched in my area and have gained a sense of who I am as an artist. I have been inspired by artists who have addressed experience and identity such as Louise Bourgeois and David Hockney in his early work.

My practice changed dramatically and it became clear that behind my desire to work in editorial design was the need to connect with people, evoke empathy for the experience of others and to try to make a difference. Through revisiting my own childhood experience I have found a way to address issues in society by sometimes tricking the viewer into a false sense of security through naive aesthetics.

My practice is multifaceted. I use illustrative idioms with reportage, editorial, and picture book illustration in mind. Through workshops, I work with people though social engagement art creating objects and spaces where conversations and communities grow. When working intuitively with my material, I create stand alone pieces made for gallery spaces. I exploit the tension within my work between fine art and illustration.