Yvette Appleby is primarily a visual artist having graduated from Art College in 1974 with a BA Honours in Fine Art – sculpture and printmaking.
Her art and creative process has changed over the years as she has adapted to different circumstances and experiences. Appleby was a single parent to two young boys in the 1980s and so the struggle to earn a living became a priority leading to several jobs and eventually 17 years in the NHS. She never ceased to make art and since retiring has concentrated solely on creating pieces that have been influenced by these experiences.
Always ready to experiment Appleby’s work is very varied ranging from shadow boxes (using found objects) to sculpture and 2D imagery in all its forms including short animations. She is especially interested in Surrealism and objects out of their perceived place.
Recently Yvette has become involved with creative writing, particularly poetry and flash fiction to enhance her work.
Self-taught or art school?
I attended Art College from 1971-74 in Wolverhampton gaining a BA Honours in Fine Art Sculpture and Printmaking. I was very lucky coming from a working-class background to be able to go into further education as it was by no means as common as it is today, especially for women.
Fortunately, there were no fees to pay and all the materials were free. I was awarded a full grant and managed to sustain myself by working during the holidays. The cost of living was affordable if you accepted poor housing and a hand to mouth existence Nobody felt the worse for it. Quite the opposite. The eccentric, excessive lifestyle suited the wonderful personalities thrown together in an exciting and innovative environment but it was a struggle to keep your place. Some of my friends were asked to leave after the first year as their work was regarded as ‘stagnant’.
Small year groups and large studios were the order of the day. It was a wonderful and unforgettable learning experience.
If you could own one work of art what would it be?
I think I would go for Garden of Earthly Delights by Hieronymus Bosch. Its surreal vision is one of beauty and terror at the same time. A superbly painted fantasy world You would never tire looking at it, in it or trying to explain it.
How would you describe your style?
I love experimenting with different materials and styles but predominantly I think of myself as a surrealist. I use found objects that have a history bought from flea markets and antique fairs as a source. Old toys are not only fascinating but visibly show a life. I have a large collection and use them in my work if I can. They usually materialise in shadow boxes or mosaics During lockdown I have started to use paint, collage and drawing more than I used to mainly because there are fewer resources needed to produce a 2D piece.
Can you tell us about your artistic process?
My work is often dictated by the objects around me that I have collected. Mosaics in particular. The local auction house used to provide lots of old frames, boxes and strange items that I may have bought with no specific use in mind accept that they were interesting. I rarely plan a piece but they usually evolve as I work on them. I have a vague idea or prompt and work from there. This produces a varied collection of finished artwork ranging from line drawings to dioramas and short animations.
Is narrative important within your work?
Absolutely narrative is very important. I hope what I produce tells a story but realise that story may be different for everyone who sees it. My work can look and feel ambiguous and I hope people feel they have to look further to find all the symbols and comments I try to include.
I have always been interested in creative writing particularly poetry which enhances my visual pieces.
Who are your favourite artists and why?
I do appreciate outsider art and street art for their wildness, the ability to stir emotions and irreverence to convention.
Jean Michel Basquiat I admire very much and all the SAMO artists of the ’80s. This also includes Banksy who was influenced by them. The concept of art for everyone and the questioning of the elite commercialism of the art world is important to me. Other artists on my favourite list include Grayson Perry who satisfies my love of symbolism, pattern and the use of found objects. I also find his interest in the ‘common man’ very inspiring in his approach to motivating people to produce art and the therapeutic benefits of doing so.
Frieda Kahlo for her symbolism, much born out of physical pain and her distinctive South American style. Dorothea Tanning used all mediums including writing to create her surreal world and in the same group Leonora Carrington another surrealist who despite her personal tortures and anxieties never gave up on her art or relinquished her freedom as a woman. David Hockney for his willingness to experiment and change.
Who or what inspires your work?
I have a group of friends who are creative in some way not just artists but writers and performers. They both encourage and inspire as well as critique what I do. Lockdown has been a great inspiration to me and a tremendous motivator bringing artists together using online platforms with events and challenges.
Where is your studio and what is it like?
I have never really had a studio as such. Finances often would not allow it. Currently, my studio is in my bedroom which is not ideal but the limitations do foster invention. Lack of equipment/tools and a safe place to use them is a challenge but one I am used to. It is difficult to achieve technically good creations or very large ones but, in a way, it frees you of convention even if it is frustrating at times.
Do you have any studio rituals?
Not really. I do have to clean up at the end of the day because I sleep in the same room. If I did have a studio I am certain this wouldn’t happen. When I work I am not a naturally tidy person.
What are you working on currently?
I do have a few projects I am working on. One is the Petri Dish project run by Tebbs Contemporary Art Gallery. 70 artists are given a petri dish in which to produce an artwork relevant to the world today. The best of these will be shown together as a group. The theme can be political, environmental or scientific and finished works should be returned by June. It’s quite a puzzling challenge as the space is so small but an exciting one.
Where can we buy your artwork?
I have two online outlets for my work. My web site https://www.yvetteappleby.com or my Instagram account @creative_curiosities
