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Adrian Riley
Riley in 2022
Born1971 (age 52–53)
Leeds, West Yorkshire, England
EducationLeeds Arts University
Occupations

Adrian Riley (b. Leeds, 1971) is a British artist and graphic designer based in Scarborough, North Yorkshire.[1][2] Riley has created permanent artworks for the public realm across the UK, including work for The National Trust, English Heritage, NHS, RSPB, and local authorities and arts organisations. Primarily working with words, particularly with local residents as co-creators, Riley has also collaborated with writers and poets, including Simon Armitage, Ian Duhig, John W. Clarke and Charlotte Oliver, and with artists including Rachel Welford, Annabel McCourt and British comic book artist John Cooper.

Early life and education

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Riley was born in Leeds, West Yorkshire in 1971 and grew up in Pudsey close to the border with Bradford. He attended Pudsey Grangefield School and then studied graphic design at Leeds Arts University graduating in 1990.[3]

Career

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Riley worked as a designer at Bradford College and Leeds Metropolitan University before forming the multidisciplinary design studio Electric Angel Design in Bradford in 2000. In Bradford he was part of the Atom Studios collective[4] based in a former woollen mill Bradford city centre. He worked on several projects with Artworks Creative Communities including his first public art - the design of metal gates in West Bowling co-created with the community and commissioned by English Heritage.[5]

In 2003, Riley relocated his studio to Scarborough where he co-founded the practitioners network Creative Coast[6] with local arts organisation Create.

In 2008 he co-presented the town's winning bid for the accolade of 'UK Enterprise Capital',[7] Scarborough went on to win the European Enterprise Awards the same year as the UK's entry with Scarborough's submission packs designed by Electric Angel.[8][9] As a result Riley was invited to represent Scarborough meeting then Prime Minister Gordon Brown at Downing Street.[10]

In 2005, Electric Angel Design recreated the logo for The Boys' Brigade.[11]

In 2022, Riley contributed to BBC Radio 4 Today programme series 'Britain's Favourite Beach'[12] with a response that looked at history through Scarborough;s illuminated seafront signage.[13]

Public artworks

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Riley's work in the public realm includes:

  • Balancing Act (Brimham Rocks, North Yorkshire)
    Collaboration with the Poet Laureate, Simon Armitage, and stone carver Richard Dawson at The National Trust Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) of Brimham Rocks. Commissioned in 2023 by The National Trust.[14][15]
  • Signs of the Times (Scarborough)
    Six illuminated text artworks and accompanying audio created from local residents stories and memories marking favourite but uncelebrated town centre locations. Commissioned by Scarborough-based arts organisation ARCADE with Scarborough Town Team in 2023.[16]
  • The Migrating Zoetrope (Hull)
    100-metre (330-foot) long artwork combining semi-abstract imagery and minimalist poetry inspired by bird migration and sloops of the Humber. Collaboration with artist Annabel McCourt. Commissioned in 2022 by the Environment Agency.[citation needed]
  • Come Follow Me (Grimsby)
    A 35-metre (115-foot) long text artwork etched into stone paving weaving together origin myths, residents stories, found text from industrial heritage, poetry and a hopscotch of dates. Part of a £1.8 Million development of St James Square in front of Grimsby Minster. Commissioned by North East Lincolnshire Council.[17][18][19]
  • Walls Have Ears (Dewsbury)[20]
    Commissioned by Kirklees District Council to create a series of seven large metal wall panels exploring the hopes and dreams of the local community, from young children to retirees. The panels use lettering inspired by the architecture of the town.[21]
  • Priory Park Pillars (Nottingham)
    Commissioned to design and manufacture artworks for a new sculpture park celebrating the history of Lenton Priory. The five 'Priory Park Pillars' were the result of historical research and workshops with local students. Each feature a medieval inspired pattern and explanatory text telling an aspect of the site's history.[citation needed]
  • Birdsong (RSPB Bempton, East Yorkshire)
    The result of working with the RSPB to create permanent artworks across the site and the visitor centre introducing visitors to the calls and song of the birdlife at Bempton Cliffs.[22]
  • Reckoning of Time (St. Peter's Church, Monkwearmouth)
    A series of 12 windows, in collaboration with Rachel Welford, referring to The Venerable Bede who lived at the twin monasteries of Monkwearmouth-Jarrow, based on historical research.[23] Manufacturing took place at the National Glass Centre, located across from the church.[24]
  • Tidal Word Wave & Water Line (Bridlington, East Yorkshire)
    Collaboration with Rachel Welford to produce two large-scale site-specific typographic artworks on Bridlington Promenade based on found text and statistical tide data. The artworks form a series of panels fixed to an existing building, and a balustrade in front new-build structures as part of a £40m development.[citation needed]
  • Song Tunnel (Leeds City Centre)
    A public artwork in the pedestrian underpass linking car parking to the new Leeds Arena music venue. The artwork features 60 unique typographic panels using song titles from bands and artists associated with the city including Scritti Politti and Tony Christie.[25]
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  • Detail of the artwork 'Balancing Act' by Simon Armitage with Adrian RIley at Brimham Rocks, North Yorkshire
    'Balancing Act' by Simon Armitage with Adrian Riley at Brimham Rocks, North Yorkshire (detail).
  • A detail of St Peters Chapterhouse stained glass windows by Rachel Welford and Adrian Riley
    St Peters Chapterhouse stained glass windows by Rachel Welford and Adrian Riley (detail)
  • Photograph of 'Come Follow Me' by Adrian Riley at Grimsby Minster
    'Come Follow Me' by Adrian Riley at Grimsby Minster
  • Photograph of phonetic birdsong panels by artist Adrian Riley at RSPB Bempton
    Phonetic birdsong panels by Adrian Riley at RSPB Bempton
  • Photograph of 'Tidal Wordwave' glass artwork in Bridlington by Adrian Riley and Rachel Welford
    Tidal Wordwave artwork by Adrian Riley and Rachel Welford

Awards

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  • 2013: Leeds Architecture Award - commended[26]
  • 2016: Northern Design Awards for St. Peter's, Monkwearmouth - winner[27]
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References

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  1. ^ "ARTIST INTERVIEW: Adrian Riley". Behind The Artist.
  2. ^ Harrison, Kate (July 27, 2022). "WALK THIS WAY – ARTIST INTERVIEW ADRIAN RILEY".
  3. ^ "Leeds Arts University Homepage | Leeds Arts University". www.leeds-art.ac.uk. Retrieved 2024-02-12.
  4. ^ "Atom Studios". Bradford Online.
  5. ^ "English Heritage Home Page". English Heritage. 2014-11-06. Retrieved 2024-02-12.
  6. ^ "Bssiness Awards - Electric Angel Design". York Press. 29 July 2010.
  7. ^ "Scarborough's revival marked by top award". www.ft.com.
  8. ^ "Scarborough named most enterprising town in Europe". The Northern Echo. May 14, 2009.
  9. ^ "Scarborough's new look draws praise". York Press. May 15, 2009.
  10. ^ "Designer Adrian honoured by PM". Bradford Telegraph and Argus. June 24, 2009.
  11. ^ "The bulletin". February 8, 2024 – via www.thetimes.co.uk.
  12. ^ "BBC Radio 4 - Best of Today, What makes a British beach special?". 27 June 2022.
  13. ^ "Mixcloud". www.mixcloud.com.
  14. ^ https://www.itv.com/watch/news/balancing-act-simon-armitages-latest-poem-honours-yorkshire-beauty-spot/n28335d/
  15. ^ Audsley, Natasha (22 June 2023). "'Mythical or pieces of an alien landscape'- Yorkshire's Simon Armitage poem carved into stone at Brimham Rocks". Harrogate Advertiser. Retrieved 12 February 2024.
  16. ^ Times, Lancashire. "A Locally Inspired, Illuminated Trail In An Illuminated Town!". Lancashire Times.
  17. ^ "Historic heart of Grimsby re-opened to public after £1.8m makeover". Grimsby Live. May 28, 2021 – via www.grimsbytelegraph.co.uk.
  18. ^ "St James' Square".
  19. ^ "North East Lincolnshire Council seeks expert to develop public spaces". September 30, 2022 – via www.bbc.co.uk.
  20. ^ "Walls Have Ears". May 17, 2021.
  21. ^ "Adrian's artwork breathes new life into Dewsbury bus station".
  22. ^ "Art on the cliff tops - Bempton Cliffs - Bempton Cliffs - The RSPB Community". community.rspb.org.uk. 31 March 2017.
  23. ^ "Chapter House & Windows – St. Peter's, Wearmouth".
  24. ^ Henderson, Tony (April 11, 2017). "Stained glass goes full circle as St Peter's restoration project completed". Chronicle Live.
  25. ^ URL=https://www.jeffchristie.com/facts.html
  26. ^ "Feathership". norfolkwayarttrail.co.uk. Retrieved 2024-02-13.
  27. ^ "Feathership". norfolkwayarttrail.co.uk. Retrieved 2024-02-13.
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