Exhibitions
Born in New Zealand where she trained as a nurse and worked with the neurosurgical team at Auckland Public Hospital. She came to London via Latin America in 1976, where she worked in intensive care at St Thomas' Hospital. Susan then studied painting at Camberwell and the Royal Academy. Awards include British School at Rome, 1993, Richard Ford award to Madrid, 1986 and Italian Government bursary to Venice, 1984. Susan Wilson is visiting lecturer at The Royal Drawing School and The National Portrait Gallery London. She curated Reclaiming the Madonna and In the Looking Glass with the Usher Gallery, Lincoln.
Selected Solo Exhibitions
2018
Browse & Darby, London, UK
Pah Homestead, Auckland, NZ
Jane Roberts, Paris , France
2015
Fauna & Flores Pinacoteca Palazzo Ricci Monte San Martino, Ragione Marche Italy, July to December
2014
Fauna & Flores Browse & Darby, UK
2013
Like a Wall of Roman Goddesses, Coll & Cortes, UK
2011
Portraits, MacAtamney Gallery, South Canterbury NZ
2010
Jonathon Grant Gallery Auckland NZ
Pataka Porirua Museum of Arts & Cultures, A Still life is a Theatre
2009
Solo show, Tauranga Art Gallery (Toi Tauranga), Bay of Plenty, NZ
A Still Life is a Theatre , Browse and Darby
2005
Amidst the Angel Band, Browse and Darby
2003/4
Katherine Mansfield Paintings, Jonathon Grant Galleries, New Zealand (touring to The Aigantighe,
Timaru; Millennium Gallery, Blenheim; Pataka Porirua; Gardiner Gallery, University of Waikato)
2001
Judith Anderson Gallery, Auckland, New Zealand
2000
Katherine Mansfield Paintings, Browse and Darby
1999
Paintings and Drawings, Drumcroon Gallery, Wigan and Touring
1998
The Self-Portraits, Judith Anderson Gallery, Auckland, New Zealand
Susan Wilson, Leicester City Art Gallery
Italian Requiem, The Prince of Wales' Institute of Architecture
1994
Cassino Revisited, Ferner Gallery, Auckland and touring NZ
Disegni, Castel San Vincenzo, Italy (British School at Rome)
Paintings, Artspace, London, Welsh Arts Council Tour
1990
Susan Wilson, Jane Roberts and Max Rutherston Gallery, in conjunction with Thomas Agnew & Sons
1989
Robert McDougall Art Gallery, Christchurch NZ
1987
Going to Salamanca, Watermans Arts Centre, London
Selected reviews and interviews
2011
“Latitude” issue 17 June/July “Careful Compositions “ Annie Studholme
2010
NZ Herald “Traditional Trio let Emotions Fly” TJ MacNamara reviews Wilson’s solo exhibition at
Jonathon Grant Galleries Auckland
2009
“Susan Wilson “ Galleries Magazine Review of Browse & Darby solo show by Nicholas Usherwood
2008
New Zealand Portraits/ Richard Wolfe pub Penguin /Viking Susan Wilson portrait of Rahera Windsor QSM
The Painted Garden in New Zealand Art /Christopher Johnstone pub Godwit, “Lewis ‘ Garden at
Darfield”
Interview with Michael Peppiatt for "A Still Life is a Theatre" catalogue
Resonance FM William Feaver and Susan Wilson talk about drawing
2007
The Culture Show BBC2 on Frida Kahlo exhibition at Tate: Wilson discusses the making of her own self portraits in the context of Kahlo.
The Artist :Review of the Lynn Painter Stainers and Wilsons prize winning painting “The Young Oxford Undergraduate”
2005
The Spectator Laura Gascoigne highlights Wilson Browse & Darby exhibition
RA Magazine Jill Lloyd writes on Wilson’s practise
2004
The New Zealand News UK features Susan Wilsons prize winning painting “Worlds End” at The Hunting Group/ Royal College of Art
2003
North & South Ann Packer: Feature on Katherine Mansfield Paintings
Waikato University Occaisonal Paper 2 “Stories and Pictures: Susan Wilson and The Art of Illustration” essay by Conal Mc Carthy
New Zealand House & Garden “The Illustrated Katherine Mansfield” Victoria Hinton feature
Dominion Post / Visual Arts & heritage feature by David Famularo “Colouring Memories”
2002
ART NEW ZEALAND “Worlds Apart” Recent painting by Susan Wilson:Richard Wolfe
NZ Herald TJ MacNamara reviews Wilsons solo show at Judith Anderson Gallery
Financial Times Weekend “Variety ‘s Rewards for the Curious” William Packer reviews Wilson’s still life
at Browse & Darby
2001
"Kim Hill talks about Susan Wilson's solo show with APAG curator Mary Kisler" National Radio NZ
ES Magazine "You've been framed".
Katie Campbell; Auckland NZ Herald T J MacNamara, Review of “Self Portraits “ at Judith Anderson Gallery
Modern Painters :Blake Morrison review of “In the looking glass".
Leicester City Art Gallery “The Voice” review Wilson’s solo exhibiton
2000
“Folio” The Folio Society “Katherine Mansfield” by Jeffrey Meyers Wilsons illustrations are exhibited at Browse & Darby. The book is the winner that year in the Short Stories category.
1998
NZ Herald /TJ Macnamara “Linked Realms and Generations” review of Self Portraits at Judith Anderson Gallery
NZ Herald “Portrait Painters reveal Different Faces” Keith Stewart reviews Self Portait Exhibition at Judith Anderson Gallery
1995
First Sex, ITV, on 'Reclaiming the Madonna'
NZ House & Garden feature by Louise Chunn: "Susan Wilson"
The Hindu, Madras; Anjali Sircar "Cassino revisited'
Contemporary Art Libby Anson 'Reclaiming the Madonna'
1994
Nightwaves BBC Radio 3, interview with Wilson on the making of her paintings of her son asleep as a baby, “January Two Months”
The Listener NZ Merilyn Chambers 'Fountains of memory' review of “Cassino Revisited”
Radio New Zealand Alison Parr, interview 'Cassino revisited'
Artists ' Newsletter Rosie Millard: 'Women in Focus'
1993
Primetime HTV
Harpers & Queen Profile. “The Art of the Mater”
Catholic Herald Carmel Fitzsimons 'Motherhood as divine inspiration'
1992
Artspace / Clwyd. Catalogue Essay: Robert McDonald
National Portrait Gallery Publication: William Packer. "Ten years of the John Player Portrait Award'
1989/94/96
Women's Hour BBC Radio 4, interviews with Susan Wilson
1991/92
The Spectator: Giles Auty 'Natural interests' and 'Feel good factor'
1991
North and South Brian Cowley 'Mountain moments'
Dominion Denis Edwards. "Potent mix of painting politics and adventure'
1990
The Guardian Carmel Fitzsimons
1989
New Zealand Herald Bernadette Rae: 'Back to southern skies',
1988/90/92
Arts Review Edward Phelps
Medina Hammad reviews 'The Artist abroad' at The Usher Gallery, Lincoln
1987
The Independent Andrew Graham-Dixon 'Sanity in an insane situation" Review of Wilson’s painting
“Return to La Mancha” (John Player Portrait Award at The National Portrait Gallery)
Daily Telegraph Richard Dorment.'Winning expressions' NPG John Player Award
1986
Studio International: Cheltenham Fellows Final Exhibition Review
1981
Artscribe James Faure Walker:"Northern Young Contemporaries' Whitworth Gallery, Manchester
Selected Group Exhibitions
2018
Royal Academy Summer Exhibition
2017
Browse & Darby Christmas Exhibition and Group Artists Show
Small is Beautiful Flowers Gallery
2016
Ruth Borchard
Browse & Darby Christmas Exhibition and Group Artists Show
Lynn Painter Stainers
2015
Browse & Darby Christmas Exhibition and Group Artists Show
The Royal Academy Summer Show, London
The Ruth Borchard Self Portrait Exhibition Kings Place, London
"Bridge" London Group members at the Cello Factory, London
2014
Browse & Darby Christmas Exhibition and Group Artists Show
2013
Threedneedle Art Prize Finalist
The Rabley Drawing Centre Sketchbook Exhibition, UK tour
Lynn Painter Stainers Finalist
2012
Browse and Darby Christmas Exhibition and Artists Group show
Lynn Painter Stainers Finalist
2011
400 Women Canongate Venture as part of Edinburgh Festival & at Shoreditch Town Hall Hoxton London
2010
Focus-Abengoa "Premio de Pintura" Hospital de Los Venerables Seville Spain
2009
Grove Women, Four Women Artists, Beverley Knowles
London Art Fair, Business Design Centre
2008
Finalist, Threadneedle Art Prize
Small is Beautiful, Flowers East
Browse and Darby Group Show (and 2007,06)
2007
Prizewinner, Lynn Painter Stainers Exhibition
The Duneen Collection, Angela Flowers, Ireland
Royal Academy Summer Show (and 2006,1999, 97, 96, 93, 92, 91, 90, 89, 97, 86, 84, 81)
Small is Beautiful, Flowers Central
2006
Shortlisted for the John Moores, Liverpool
Selected For Angela Flowers Artist Of The Day
The Discerning Eye, selected by Helena Kennedy and Laura Gascoigne, also Sir Brinsley Ford 1991
2004
London Regional Prizewinner, Hunting Prize, Royal College of Art
2003
Image and Object: Still Life in New Zealand, Pataka Porirua
2002
Gallery Artists, Browse & Darby
1998
Head and Tales, Drumcroon Gallery and touring
1997
In the Looking Glass: Contemporary Self Portraits by Women Artists, Usher Gallery, Lincoln and touring
Thirty years of Cheltenham Fine Art Fellows, University of Gloucestershire
Cheltenham Open Drawing (and 1996)
1996
Harlech Art Biennale, Wales
The Last Dance, Theatre Clywd, Wales
1993
Reclaiming the Madonna, Usher Gallery Lincoln and Touring
Artists talk, Juan Gris at Whitechapel
1991
Piccadilly Gallery (also 1989, 87)
1990
Peterborough Pacesetters, Peterborough Museum and Art Gallery
The Artist Abroad, Usher Gallery, Lincoln and touring
Prizewinner, South Bank Picture Show
1988
Invited artist, London Group, The Royal College of Art
A Personal Choice, Sir Brinsley Ford, Fermoy Gallery, Kings Lynn
1987
Commendation, John Player Portrait Award, National Portrait Gallery (also exhibited 1986, 84)
The Long Perspective, National Trust and Agnews
1984
Riverside Open, Riverside Studios, Hammersmith, London
1982
British Drawing, Hayward Annual, Hayward Gallery, London
Pick of the New Graduates, Christie's
1981
Northern Young Contemporaries
1980
Whitechapel Open, Whitechapel Gallery, London
Published Works
Folio Society 11 paintings for new edition of Katherine Mansfield's Short Stories
Women's Press "The Fruits of Labour" Creativity, Self Expression & Motherhood essay on Susan Wilson, by Penny Sumner
OUP Book cover "The Mind & its Discontents" by Professor Grant Gillett
Virago Book cover: "Balancing Acts"
Reclaiming the Madonna, Catalogue essay
Cassino Revisited, Catalogue essay
In the Looking Glass, Catalogue essay
Artists' Newsletter "Eye to Eye, Susan Wilson in conversation with Tom Phillips" 12/97 and "In my Father's Footsteps" 12/96
Artist & Illustrator "Portraying the Self" 2/97
"So Goes the Dance" poems by Stu Bagby, pub Steele Roberts (cover "Her First Ball" Katherine Mansfield
Illustrations for Folio Society 2000) "Katherine Mansfield “El Posmodernismo incipiente de una modernista renegada" by Gerardo Rodriguez Salas, pub
Editorial Verbum (cover "prelude" Katherine Mansfield Illustration for Folio Society 2000)
Works in European Collections
Sir Michael Moritz, Pignano, Tuscany
Angela Flowers
Commune, Castel San Vincenzo (Italy)
Contemporary Arts Society
HRH The Prince of Wales
National Trust, Fenton House, London
New Hall, Cambridge
Oriel College Oxford, Portrait Sir John Elliott
Oxford Brookes University, Portrait Baroness Helena Kennedy QC
Paintings in Hospitals Collection
Rochdale Museum and Art Gallery
Royal Academy of Arts Archives: sketchbook 'From Ford Award to Madrid'
St Paul's Girls School: Portrait Rev Adam Ford
Sir Brinsley Ford Collection
Usher Gallery, Lincoln
Winterthur Insurance Plc
Focus-Abengoa Hospital de Los Venerables Seville, Spain
British Museum Dept Prints & Drawings (Witi Ihimaera)
Sir Michael Moritz Pignano
Works in Collections New Zealand
The New Zealand Portrait Gallery Te Pukenga Whakaata Dr Lawrence Hogben DSO
Aigantighe Public Art Gallery, Timaru
Air New Zealand
American Express, NZ
Auckland Art Gallery
Auckland Museum
Auckland War Memorial Museum, Tamaki Paenga Hira
Epsom Girls Grammar School
McCann Erickson Brown
National Bank
Royal Insurance
Tauranga Art Gallery, Toi Tauranga
Todd Foundation
Whangarei Art Gallery