Freya Pocklington studied a BA at Edinburgh College of Art (2006) and an MA at UAL (2009). Solo exhibitions include: Ostara, Broadway Gallery (2022) and Behind the Blue Curtain, Oxford University Hospitals (2019). Group exhibitions include: The Ruth Borchard Portrait Prize (2021). She has just completed a new body of work funded by the DYCP grant from Arts Council England. Past residencies include The National Trust, Scottish Arts Council and Somerset House. Her work is held in collections at the V&A, British Museum and The Royal Scottish Academy.

Recent work has explored narrative medicine and in particular, the interaction of medical staff and patients. She uses self-portraiture to scrutinise her experience as a patient and the role it can play in aiding communication between the two. Interwoven into this research, she draws on her upbringing where tales of witchcraft have been passed down by generations. She weaves this imagery through the work to draw similarities and seek metaphors for both the ‘unwell woman’ and the role of plants and ritual in healing.

At Cove Park, Freya will be working on new large-scale drawings instigated by sketches made during the DYCP grant.

Image: Freya Pocklington, Ebbing Tides, 130×120 cm, ink and pastel on paper.