ABOUT THE ARTIST
Dr. Katayoun Dowlatshahi
I am an artist, print-maker and fine art photographer with 27 years of experience in the field of public art, lecturing, mentoring and strategic development work.
I have developed a distinctive approach to my studio practice. I embrace a wide range of materials to suit my conceptual approach in a given project and extensively research social and environmental factors. In more recent years I have evolved my focus, working with nature both as inspiration for my work whilst also enjoying being creative with natural materials.
In 2019 I was awarded a grant by a-n for professional development to attend a 5 day masterclass with The Wet Print Studio in Valencia, Spain, in order to fully embrace Three Colour Carbon Printing in my practice. I spent much of 2020 during the pandemic lockdown honing my skills in this technique in order to embrace it fully in my own work and to teach the process . I am currently the only practitioner teaching colour Carbon printing in the UK. Students travel from different continents to learn this hand crafted process from me.
In 2022 I was honoured to be commissioned by the National Portrait Gallery in London to print 25 Tri-colour Carbon prints from their archive, for a launch retrospective exhibition of Madame Yevonde's extraordinary work: "Yevonde, Life and Colour", curated by Clare Freestone.
Education:
Having graduated in Fine Art Printmaking from Edinburgh, with an MA in European Art from Barcelona and Winchester, I was awarded a Doctorate (PhD) in Drawing & Photography from The University of Gloucestershire with a specialism in Carbon Photography, a 19th century photographic process. Since 1995 I have lectured in a number of universities alongside my status as a full-time professional artist and have, in more recent years, worked with children within school settings.
Awards & Nominations:
I have been awarded several national and international residencies, exhibited regularly, both in the UK and abroad, and have completed significant private and public realm commissions across the UK. These projects integrate contemporary art into new city- centre developments and heritage locations.