Jonathon Beaver Merseyside, United Kingdom
I am a visual artist, animator and educator based in Liverpool, North West England. Incorporating textiles with natural and industrial materials, I explore themes of literature and language, folklore, superstitions as well as exploring histories both hetero-normative and queer.
I have exhibited in solo and group shows across the United Kingdom, Europe and North America.
In August of this year, I developed the concept, art direction and curation of a group exhibition titled Medieval Marginalia. The show, held at Hamilton Vault Studios, brought together thirty-three nationwide artists and showcased 41 pieces of works. The opening launch saw over two hundred people attending and continued public engagement throughout its extended run.
I was awarded the 11th CuratorSpace Artist Bursary in April 2021 which allowed me to develop my practice in more sculptural forms using metal fabrication.
The Museum of Liverpool hosted the Tales from the City exhibition from 2018-2019 and this concluded with the museum making an acquisition of a large-scale tapestry of mine.
With over ten years' experience of working in education and public engagement, I have facilitated and delivered workshops and curriculum based lessons to children and adults. These incorporate my practice as a line of enquiry as well as foundation art techniques. Such examples have included primary schools in the North West, Liverpool University Centre for Archive Studies, Libraries in St Helens and commercial spaces such as a market hall in Yorkshire and Avenue HQ, an office space on the historic Liverpool docks.
As an animator, my films have been screened as part of Liverpool's Lightnight festival, Skeive Filmer: Oslo Gay & Lesbian Film Festival and Diversity in Animation, and the International Animation Festival of Sexual Diversity in Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. Moreover, my video work has been published at online platforms, including BBC America.
Artwork
Are you a bit bent, mate? , Plastic tubing, Aida cloth and wool. , 2021
Constructs, play, Metal, spray paint, dyed skipping ropes and plaster, 2021
Queer Fibre , 2017-ongoing
Dream of the Dead, Hear from the Living , 2018
Taut Fibre , Embroidery, 2018
Distributed Craft Socials, Embroidery, Technology, 2019
Small Steps- LGBTQ+ Celebration , Embroidery, 2018
Perception , Aida cloth, cotton and plastic, 2019
Hexenringe, Aida cloth, cotton, wooden embroidery ring and mushroom mycelium. , 2019
OCD, 2021
A bed of mosses to pillow thy head, Aida cloth, wool, cotton, felt and local moss, 2023
Mourning pins , Clay, wire, wool, cotton, aida cloth and acrylic paint, 2024
Projects and exhibitions
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Medieval Marginalia21/08/2025 — 30/08/2025 ● I developed the concept and art direction for this original show at Hamilton Vault Studios, Birkenhead. ● Composed the artist call out using the CuratorSpace platform. ● Selected artworks based on theme and quality then coordinated the 33 artists and facilitated the 41 pieces of work to be delivered from around the country. ● I... [Read more] |
Hamilton Vault Studios, Birkenhead | Details |