Stephen Fowler

Senior Lecturer in Illustration

Art & Design Communication

Contact Details

email: s.fowler@worc.ac.uk
tel: 01905 855287

Stephen Fowler was born in Bristol, grew up in Cornwall, before leaving to study Illustration at Harrow School of Art, and Central Saint Martins in London. After graduating he worked as a freelance editorial Illustrator for newspapers and magazines such as Design Week, Creative Review, Conde Nast, Redwood Publishing, Men's Health, Independent, New Law Journal, Haymarket Publishing, Illustrated Ape, BBC Worldwide Publications, Big Issue, Computer Active, Diesel Style Lab, Dennis Publishing, Time Out and Times Educational Supplement.

For the past 15 years, small press publications, rubber stamping and alternative printmaking became the focus of Fowler's Authorial Illustration practice. His prints, zines and artist books have been exhibited and held in international collections such as the Tate Gallery, the Victoria & Albert Museum, Arnolfini, Minnesota Centre for Book Arts, Malmö Artists Book Biennial and White Columns New York.

Fowler works internationally, taking his rubber stamping workshop and Wildman life drawing classes to; Göra Festival Stockholm, Grafixx Antwerp, Hay Festival, KKV Graffic Malmö, and Minnesota Centre for Book Arts.

His guide to Rubber Stamping is out now, published by Lawrence King Publishing - In 2017 this publication was shortlisted in the book category.

Qualifications

2013 The Higher Education Academy, Fellow
2013 University for the Creative Arts PG CERT Learning & Teaching in FE & HE
1995 Central Saint Martins College of Art & Design PG Cert Illustration
1993 The University of Westminster BA Hons Illustration

Teaching & Research

Teaching

ILTN1011 Image Making
ILTN1010 Illustration and Printmaking
ILTN1003 Drawing for Illustrators
ILTN3011 Authorial Practice
ILTN1012 Image & Meaning
ILTN1101 Image & Text

I teach in a number of other Universities and Art Schools as a visiting lecturer, sharing teaching skills and good practice, including; Kingston University, Oxford Brookes University, Lincoln University, University of the Creative Arts London, University of the West of England, University for the Creative Arts, Loughborough University, Leicester University, Oxford and Cherwell Valley College, and London College of Fashion.

Research

My research area is DIY printmaking and publications such as zines and artist books. I am particularly interested in Rubber Stamp printing, its diversity, and contradictory nature it can be exclusive and inclusive in its application. Artists and illustrators can play with its official form of visual language. Im fascinated that it is part of the system, documentation, keeping order etc, but its also been and still is employed by the counterculture, the underground to question the 'system'.

I am also interested in exploring the creative process all forms stamping and other forms low-fi printing, such as adapted rollers. Each has its particular characteristics and strengths to inspire a myriad of ideas and outcomes. For example, rubber stamp's portable nature means it can be printed anywhere, inspiring artworks on walls, food, and bodies.

Professional Bodies

Brother of the Art Workers Guild, London

Publications

2018
Tabletop Museum - Curator, and Exhibitor, Art Workers Guild, London
KKV Rubber Stamp Workshop KKV Graffic Malmö, Sweden
Eek and Damnation Zine Publication, Bristol
Play with Print/Big Draw Workshop Leader, Worcester City Art Gallery & Museum
Ice Age Print Making Day Workshop Leader, Worcester City Art Gallery & Museum
Wildman Life Drawing Workshop Leader, Ashridge Field School, Devon
Encounters with Books / Encuentro con libros Contributor to Artist Book Publication, IMPACT 10 Printmaking Conference, Santander, Spain
Rubber Stamp Broadside Ballads Workshop Leader, Master Class, U.W.E, Bristol
Murri Celebrates the Golden Thread Workshop Leader, Event Organiser, & D.J Cecil Sharp House, London
Character Workshop Workshop Leader/Collaborator, Worcester University & Hay Festival
Illustration Hot-Desk Performance, Hay Festival
M.A.B.B. Malmö Artists Book Biennial Passport Office Performance, Malmö, Sweden
Bound to Bristol Exhibitor, Artist Book Exhibition, U.W.E (University of the West of England), Bristol
The Golden Thread - Exhibition, Performance & Publication, Cecil Sharp House, London
32nd Annual Miniature Print Exhibition Arnolfini, Bristol
Stamped Limited Edition Rubber Stamp Book, M.C.B.A, Bristol & Minnesota, USA
Jacksons Art Supplies, Interview/ Article

2017
GÖRA! - Exhibitor & Workshop Leader, Workshop Festival, Stockholm, Sweden
Grafixx - Exhibitor & Workshop Leader, Graphics & Illustration Festival, Antwerp, Belgium
The Ballad of Chetham's Library: Music and Printing workshop, Manchester
All Inked Up Artist Book Symposium Keynote Speaker, Exhibitor and Workshop Leader
Table Top Museum Curator, and Exhibitor, Art Workers Guild, London
& So- An exhibition of artists books & multiples from the collections of The Centre for the Artist Book, grahame galleries + editions and Queensland College of Art, Queensland College of Art Library, Brisbane, Australia
'For & Against, Art, Politics and the Pamphlet Symposium Performance, and Workshop collaborator with Little Riot Press, Loughborough University
'Rubber Stamps' - Publication - Café Royal Books
Artist In Residence - The H/G Rubber Stamp Archive, Minnesota Centre for Book Arts, Minnesota
Association of Illustrators World Illustration Award Shortlisted, book category
Rubber Stamp Passport Office - Exhibition & Performance, B.A.B.E Arnolfini, Bristol
Hatched - Exhibition, The Hive, Worcester
Bookishness - World Book Night Publication, Workshop Leader, Artist Trip to Loch Ness, Print Research Centre, University of the West of England
Future Legacies: Collections, Collecting and Artists Books Exhibition & Catalogue Publication, The Stanley & Audrey Burton Gallery, University of Leeds
31st Annual Miniature Print Exhibition, Arnolfini Gallery Bristol
Craft Stamper Article, Pocket Magazines
BRRMag Interview/Article, Zine

2016
International Day Of Human Rights Stamping Rubber Stamp Workshop Leader Book Arts Bookshop, London
'Rubber Stamping, Get Creative with Stamps, Rollers and other Printing Techniques' Laurence King Publishing
Rubber Stamp Book Launch - Workshop Leader, Publication and Performance, Art Workers Guild, London
Rubber Stamp Book Launch - Workshop Leader, Arnolfini, Bristol
BBC Radio Bristol - Interview with Steve Yabsley
BBC Bristol Radio Interview with Emily Chiswell
Let's Get Stamping ! - Article Interview, Creative Review
Book Arts Newsletter Review and Article
Printmaking Today - Interview & Article
It's Alive ! - Exhibition, Minnesota Centre for Book Arts, Minnesota
Set In Stone - Exhibition, Tobacco Factory, Bristol
Serena Joy -World Book Night Publication, Print Research Centre, University of the West of England
2016-17 The Artist Book Year Book Publication, Impact Press, Centre for Fine Print Research, University of the West of England
The Craft of Medicine Exhibitor, Welcome Collection, London

2015
Table Top Museum Exhibition Curator, Art Workers Guild, London
BABE 2015 Bristol Artists Book Event Performance, Arnolfini, Bristol

2014
Café Royal Books: Index Publication, Café Royal Books
RUKSSIAN Artists Books Exhibition, Pavel Kuznetsov Museum, Saratov
Cosmic Forces Publication, Artist Book

2013
Wildman Life Drawing & Bigfoot Printing - Performance & Workshop, Curiosity: Art and the Pleasure of Knowing, Turner Contemporary, Margate
BABE 2013 Bristol Artists Book Event- Exhibitor & Performance, Arnolfini, Bristol
VOLUME: Birmingham's Art Book & Print Fair - Exhibitor & Performance, Birmingham Library
Jiggling Atoms Exhibition, Royal Festival Hall, London

2012
Wildman Life Drawing Performance & Workshop, Supersonic Festival, Birmingham
Wildman Life Drawing - Performance & Workshop, Wide Open School, Hayward Gallery, London
2012-13 The Artist's Book Yearbook Impact Press, Centre for Fine Print Research, University of the West of England
Jiggling Atoms Exhibition, Rag Factory, London
Glasgow International Artist Bookfair Exhibitor, Glasgow

2011
The Strawberry Thief Exhibition, The Fine Arts Society, London
Ministry of Frogs
Black & White Exhibition, Peacock Visual Arts/Multiplied, Freeze, London
White Heat Publication, Artist Book
Fraternise - Exhibition, Beaconsfield, London

2010
Home Made Record Sleeve Collection Exhibition, Bulletin Board, White Columns, New York
White Heat Kalied Editions, London
Flat Work Flat Earth Publication, Artist Book

2009
Rob Pruitt's Flea Market Exhibition, Tate Modern
Varoom Magazine - Interview
Follow-ed Touring Exhibition New Wave: artists publishing in the 21st Century - Impact Printmaking Conference U.W.E, Bristol
Homemade Record Sleeves Exhibition. Franklin Alvarez, London
Homemade Record Sleeves Volume 3 Publication, Artist Book

External Responsibilities

I am an associate and sessional BA (Hons) and MA Illustration lecturer for the following Universities and Colleges; Kingston University, and University of the Creative Arts Farnham and Canterbury, Oxford Brookes University, Lincoln University, University of the Creative Arts London - Camberwell College of Art, Loughborough University, Leicester University, Oxford and Cherwell Valley College, University of the West of England and London College of Fashion.

I run Continuing Professional Development (CPD) courses in Printmaking during the Summer months at the University of the West of England.

I teach workshops in secondary schools such as; Simon Langton Girls' Grammar School, Canterbury, St Katharine School, Bristol and Putney High School, London.

I regularly run experiential workshops in Primitive Printmaking and Drawing in institutions such as the Victorian & Albert Museum, Whitechapel Art Gallery, Birmingham Library, the Wallace Collection, Hayward Gallery and Margates Turner Contemporary gallery.