Susan MacInnes � Curriculum Vitae

Susan works from her rural Aberdeenshire studio. She uses a variety of mediums and her inspiration comes from enjoying the world and the people and animals around her. Initially, her joint love of art and words saw her go on to study English at Aberdeen University and then to teach. During this time she continued to paint and sculpt for herself until she felt she needed more time and space to develop her art. She completed the Aberdeen College Foundation Art and Design course in 1993. Since then, she has developed her artwork, while raising her family, undertaking community and primary school projects, within the classroom and the outside environment.

Her sculptures, which can be intricate or stylised, are drawn in a variety of clay bodies, using hand built techniques and experimenting with different styles and finishes, which lets each unique piece tell its own story. Her work is often imbued with humour to engage the audience with the spirit of each piece. Her love of story telling, myth, different cultures and archetypal images are also incorporated, which leaves her work open to interpretation on many levels.


The Inspiration For �Everything Stops For Tea� and �Everything Stops For Tea Two�

�A phrase was playing on my mental loop-tape � �Everything Stops For Tea� � and I thought what if everything, literally, had to stop for a cup of tea � a performance for example, breaking the age-old rule of �The Show Must Go On�. So, initially, the idea for these pieces came from circus animals working together but their performance/progress being halted by one element � the monkey on their backs (the smallest and physically weakest) stopping everything for a cup of tea.

The monkey is quite literally �the monkey on your back� � the serious problem which will not go away; the constant mental/emotional burden holding you back from progressing or achieving your full potential, and the constant state of bewilderment or mental agitation caused by the loud and feisty monkey chattering constantly in your ear. The other animals are our full potential - all our strengths and abilities weighed down and hampered by the monkey�s demands and interference. �

Exhibition Profile & Awards

2002 POTFEST at Perth, International Ceramic Festival, Perth
2003 award Gordon Forum of the Arts Sculpture Award
2005 award Gordon Forum of the Arts Sculpture Award
2007 North East Open Studios (Solo Exhibition)
2008 Gordon Forum Exhibition, Aberdeenshire
2008 Spring Exhibition, Scotlandart.com, Edinburgh
2008 Affordable Art Fair, Battersea, London, Scotlandart.com
2008 See, Salt and Sound Visual Arts Exhibition, Aberdeen
2008 Edinburgh Art Fair, Scotlandart.com
2009 Summer Exhibition, Dolphin Gallery, Aberdeenshire
2009 North East Open Studios (Solo Exhibition)
2009 September Exhibition (Group), Scotlandart.com, Glasgow
2009 Winter Exhibition, Scotlandart.com, Glasgow
2009 Christmas Exhibition, Art & Escape, London
2010 Glasgow Art Fair, Scotlandart.com
2010 Sept North East Open Studios (Group Exhibition)