Biography

Born in England, and raised in New Zealand, Michelle Dovey finished her first degree in new New Zealand, before travelling to Europe to see the paintings she had studied first hand. She completed her Masters at the School of Visual Arts in New York where she encountered the works of the Abstract Expressionists. These made a deep impression.  Returning to England she lived in London for many years. She has shown with Gimpel Fils since 2006.  Her work was included in the group show Under the Greenwood Picturing British Trees at St Barbe Museum and Art Gallery (2013).  Following this show the exhibiting artists formed themselves into the Arborealists group, with many exhibitions following including the Royal West of England Academy, Bristol (2014).  In 2010 she moved to Pembrokeshire, and now lives in St Davids. She continues to find inspiration in painting trees, particularly oaks. In February 2020 she was Artist in Residence at Oriel Y Parc, St Davids, Pembrokeshire.

CV

1972 born Oxford, England
1994 Diploma Fine Arts (Hons), Otago School of Art, Dunedin, New Zealand
1998 Masters Fine Arts, School of Visual Art , New York

Selected Shows

2021
John Moores Painting Prize 2021, Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool
Root and Branch, group show at Karin Weber Gallery, Hong Kong
Summer Exhibition, Plas Glyn y Weddw, Llanbedrog

2020
Summer Exhibition, Plas Glyn y Weddw, Llanbedrog

2016
Michelle Dovey: The Colourful Sausage Trees, Gimpel Fils, London (solo)
The Art of the Tree: The Arborealists, St Barbe Museum and Art Gallery (group show)

2014
Arboretum, The Art of Trees, RWA, Bristol (group show)
In the Garden, Gimpel Fils, London (solo)

2013
Under the Greenwood, Picturing British Trees, St Barbe Museum and Art Gallery (group show)

2010
Peppercanister, Dublin (solo)

2009
Michelle Dovey: New Landscapes, Gimpel Fils (solo)

2007
A Song Turning Inward, OneTwentyGallery, Gent, Belgium
Wood for the Trees and Falling Leaves, Gimpel Fils, London (group show)

2006
Gimpel Fils, London (solo)

2005
Jasmine, E31 Gallery, Athens, Greece

1998
SP Projects, Wooster St Gallery, New York, USA

Awards

1996
Elizabeth Greenshields Grant, Canada

Collections

Ernst and Young

Bibliography

Arborealists: The Art of the Tree, catalogue to accompany the exhibition at St Barbe Museum and Art Gallery 2016
Under the Greenwood: Picturing the British Tree from Constable to Kurt Jackson, catalogue from the exhibition at St Barbes Museum and Art Gallery 2013