SIMON FREND
SCULPTOR-DESIGNER-MAKER
01 bio
With equal parts problem finder and problem solver and a touch of positive disruptor, thrown into the mix, I am inclined to question accepted thinking, in pursuit of excellence. I am an artist and designer with a love of making, an experienced educator who believes in experiential learning and experimentation and a niche gallery owner.
I studied art & design, silversmithing & metalwork and applied arts at AUB, AUP and UAL and consider myself to be a generalist. I established my art practice around 25 years ago and was a gallery artist for Berkeley Square Gallery in London, early in my career and sold my work internationally. I have also enjoyed collaborating with other artists, designers and architects, managing an artists’ studio and lecturing at Arts University Plymouth.
After moving back to Dorset I worked in academia for 20 years, gaining a PGCE and leading 3D Art, Craft and Design at Arts University Bournemouth. During this period I also enjoyed working on various architectural design projects as well as small scale making projects. In recent years, I have returned to my own sculptural practice, formed dyingarts.co.uk and established a new studio and gallery space in the heart of the burgeoning creative community in Bournemouth.
02 portfolio
03 professional practice
As an academic, I have had the pleasure of working with Arts University Bournemouth, Arts University Plymouth, Royal Bournemouth and Christchurch Hospitals, The Lighthouse Poole, Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra and many other arts, education and community organisations.
My professional practice as an artist and designer ran in parallel with academia for some years but having established dyingarts and taken on new artists studios, I am again working full-time as an artist and curator.
dyingarts is an artist led online gallery and shop, dedicated to showcasing and selling exceptional, ethical cremation urns and related artwork. We exhibit the work of artists and craftspeople, who are engaged with the social and environmental practice associated with cremation urns and end of life ceremonies and use their skills and materiality, to create exceptional artwork within this context.
19 dyingarts gallery, 635 Christchurch Rd, Bournemouth BH1 4AP
17 Interior design renovation project
10-13 Architectural design & project mgmt, radical eco property redesign
07-10 Architectural design & project mgmt, new property design
98-05 Gallery artist, Berkeley Square Gallery, London
99 Art 99, London
99 Open Studios 99, Devon
98-00 Management of artists' studios, Wixenford Studios, Devon
98 Founding member of artist group, Plymouth Arts Initiative
98-99 Site specific sculpture commission, Business Design Centre London
98-99 Architectural detailing, David Sheppard Architects
98 New Designers Exhibition, BDC London
96-98 Craft and design commissions, Maitland-Smith & Others
96 Recent Graduates, Exhibition, New Ashgate Gallery, Farnham
96 New Designers Exhibition, BDC London