ELLA CHEDBURN
ARTIST CV
STATEMENT
Ella Chedburn is a multidisciplinary artist born in Frome, England, currently based in Bristol. Her work playfully blends scientific, spiritual, and speculative thinking to open up more enchanted, entangled ways of understanding the world.
​
Her projects have involved wiring plants to computers, healing digital problems with herbs, crafting fictional inventions, and so much more. These ideas manifest across both digital and physical realms: from immersive virtual experiences and experimental films to handmade books and prints.
Her research often begins online, where she honours the internet as a space where fact and fiction co-exist. In one tab, she might be reading about the latest biotech developments; in another, an ancient folklore surrounded by glittering clip art. She respects all forms of knowledge equally, allowing them all to intertwine freely. The forest is a recurring setting in her work as she navigates its nostalgic and mystical roots in relation to the increasingly technologised world surrounding it.
In 2023, Ella completed a two-month British Council-funded residency in Indonesia, collaborating with local artists to explore scientific and mythological approaches of flood reduction through multidisciplinary artworks. Since then, she has exhibited in group shows across England, Indonesia, Austria and Germany. Beyond her personal art practice, she leads creative workshops and manages communications for arts organisations.
​
RESIDENCIES
March - May 2023
The Trees & The Wires. Gulung Tukar, Indonesia.
Travelled to Tulungagung, Indonesia to conduct research, experimentation and creative making in collaboration with Indonesian multidisciplinary arts collective Gulung Tukar. Created seven artworks, each co-created with different Indonesian artists in a different medium. These were presented in a final exhibition and public programme. Project supported by 'Connections Through Culture' 2023 grant from British Council. Find out more here.
PUBLICATIONS
June 2023
Feb 2023
Nov 2020
July 2020
April 2020
Jan 2020
Nov 2019
Feb 2018
We The Forest // Forestry England Arts
A book celebrating forests through science and art.
View here
The Trees & The Wires Artistic Documentation // Gulkar Press
Documenting artist residency with Gulung Tukar in Indonesia. Funded by British Council.
​
Solastalgia Zine // Edventure Frome
Expressing grief towards climate breakdown.
Hints on Pattern Designing // The Storybox Collective
AI generated Morris patterns alongside poetry by Julia Rose Lewis.
​
Second Sad Grads Zine
With fellow UK art school graduates who also had their exhibitions cancelled due to Covid19.
Cats Cradle // Stanley Picker Gallery
Six week proposal project led by Lucy Hutchinson. Proposed an anthology merging folkloric and scientific explanations of cleft lips.
Wood Wide Web // Brooklyn Sketchbook Library in New York
Handmade book written using predictive text then illustrated with dreamy watercolours.
Wood Wide Web // Stanley Picker Gallery
Book blending science, folklore, and digitisation, displayed at Stanley Picker Gallery.
​
Plathoes Cave online magazine
Work featured alongside article ‘Encountering Value Beyond the Certainty Machine’.
​
​
TALKS
March 2024
May 2023
June 2022
Oct 2021
Mz Baltazar's Laboratory // Austria, Vienna
About Cyberlore project.​
​
Gulung Tukar // Tulungagung, Indonesia
About artist residency experience and research.
​
Borough Group Collective // London South Bank University, England
About A.I. generated Borough Group Collective painting commission.
​
William Morris Society // Online
About A.I. generated William Morris patterns.
EXHIBITIONS
March 2024
April 2023
Feb 2023
July-Sept 2022
July 2022
2020-2022
Oct 2020 - 2021
Oct 2020
March 2020
Nov 2019
Oct 2017
March 2017
National Gallery of Indonesia in Jakarta // The Basoeki Abdullah Art Award
'The Trees & The Wires' project with Gulung Tukar featuerd in finalist exhibition.
SomoS Arts in Berlin, Germany // Casting a Spell in Computational Regimes
Spirit Dog 360 mixed-realtiy experience, shared at a group exhibition exploring how contemporary rituals challenge digital capitalism, patriarchy, and environmental collapse. Curated by Arianna Forte in collaboration with the Italian Council.
Mz Baltazar's Laboratory in Vienna, Austria // Ritual Practices for a Transfeminist Counter-Apocalypse
Cyberlore film displayed at a group exhibition exploring rituals and spells within digital and political contexts.
​
Nandur Srawung Gallery in Yogyakarta, Indonesia // Habitat Lokacarita
'The Trees & The Wires' project with Gulung Tukar featured in group exhibition.
​
Gulung Tukar in East Java, Indonesia // The Trees & The Wires
Collaboration with Indonesian artists exploring mystical and scientific methods of water control. Supported by British Council.
Black Swan Art Gallery in Somerset // Solastalgia
Forest Virus installation.
​
Black Swan Art Gallery in Somerset // Black Swan Arts Open
Cyberlore cyanotype prints.
​
Bat Print Studio in Somerset // Playground
Tree cyanotype prints.
Walkie Talkie Building in London // Liberty Specialty Markets Art Award
Painting and prints from Interference series.
William Morris Society in London // Wallpaper Man with Storybox Collective
A.I. generated Morris patterns.
​
Silk Mill Gallery in Somerset // Bat Print Studio Launch
Interference printmaking series.
Platform Gallery in London // Pause
Interactive plant attached to a moisture sensor which ‘talked’ to viewers.
​
Stanley Picker Gallery in London // Book-ish
Book blending science, folklore, and digitisation.
Longleat Forest in Somerset // Forest Shapes
Forest light installation - solo show.
​
Asylum Chapel in Peckham, London​ // Out of Touch
Mirror box. Curated, exhibited and dismantled the entire exhibition within one evening.
Oct 2024
Dec 2024
Aug 2023
Nov 2024
QUALIFICATIONS
2016 - 2020
2014 - 2015
2007 - 2014
First Class Fine Art BA (Hons) Degree
Kingston School of Art in England
+ International study abroad year at Concordia Unversity in Montreal, Canada
​
Merit in Foundation Diploma in Art and Design.
Wiltshire College, Trowbridge, Wiltshire.
A levels: Art A*, English Lit & Lang A, Psychology A.
GCSEs: 10 A* - C
St Augustines College, Trowbridge, Wiltshire.
AWARDS
2024
2020-22
2020
Basoeki Abdullah Art Award // Finalist
For 'The Trees & The Wires' with Gulung Tukar. Exhibited at National Gallery of Indonesia.
Liberty Specialty Markets Art Award with Parker Harris // Finalist
For Interference series.
​​
Creative Conscience 2020 // Commended
For Data Water.
WORK EXPERIENCE
April 2025 to current
May 2021 - April 2025
Nov 2023 - May 2024
Sept 2020 - July 2023
Sept 2020 - Feb 2023
March 2019
May - July 2018
Feb 2018
Sept 2017 - Nov 2018
Nov 2013 - Sept 2016
Showing applicable career history only:
Communications Manager // Knowle West Media Centre
Creative Programme Assistant // Knowle West Media Centre, Bristol
Communications Assistant // Control Shift Network, Bristol
​
Social Media Manager Volunteer // Bat Print Studios, Frome, Somerset
​
Children’s Art School Assistant // Bat Print Studios, Frome, Somerset​
Gallery Sitter // E-space 8 and Studio Rialto in Montreal
​
Student Project Manager // Rose Theatre in Kingston Upon Thames
​
Gallery Assistant Volunteer // Stanley Picker Gallery in London
Student Academic Mentor // Kingston School of Art
Library Assistant // Trowbridge Library in Wiltshire
WORKSHOPS
2025
2023-2025
2024
2021-2024
Storymaking Community Experiment // Springfield Allotment in Bristol, UK
Taught 2D plant scanning and assisted in facilitation of an experimental Spring Equinox workshop. Hosted by James Broadley (of Mafia Weekend CIC) who led a night of digital story-making.
​
Creative Cuppa // Knowle West Media Centre in Bristol, UK
Co-produced, co-facilitated, coordinated, documented and promoted a new weekly community art/tech drop-in as part of role at KWMC. Arranged visiting artists, managed budget, and ensured a high level of care and accessibility across a diverse range of ages, backgrounds and abilities. This includes people who are neurodiverse, people with mental health needs, and people who use wheelchairs. The programme responded to community wants and included: craft activities, virtual reality, 3D scanning, iPad drawing, electronic pompoms and LOTS more!
Plant Geli Plate Printing // Springfield Allotment in Bristol, UK
Taught geli plate printing to 40 people in small fifteen-minute groups at a Wander Gather event.
​
Cyanotype Printing // Frome Art School, KWMC, Filwood Community Centre in UK and Gulung Tukar in Indonesia
Led numerous workshops over the years in the full process of cynaotype, from mixing chemicals to exposing prints using a UV light box or sunshine. This has taken different formats, from intimate groups of six people to drop-ins at community events.
​​