L-R: Photo credit © Clore Leadership; install for Hospital Rooms at Longreach House; Cultivator Cornwall funded skills development work at Trevone Quarry with blacksmith, Lisa Wisdom.
I am an artist who sets-up situations of collaboration and learning, enabling opportunity to ask questions, seek alternative viewpoints, and forge new connections. I approach my practice as practical research, and create artworks around subjects that I want to learn more about and better understand.
I make artwork through a range of method, media and material, developing work, projects and programmes that bring people together using visual art as a structure and prompt for action and discussion. Within my works symbols and forms may repeat or reflect, elements of sculptures and drawings may lean, prop or balance, conversations may be decisive or meandering; all embracing contradiction, review and revision. Individual pieces work together to create a shifting whole, a supportive flexible structure and the fluidity of a shared story.
I am interested in edges and moments of change, the potential of an element or individual, the possibilities of the collective, and questioning the balance of power. The use and evolution of the natural environment, particularly in relation to human activity, for instance archeological and industrial sites, alongside performance platforms, such as stages and dance floors, inform the abstract and semi-fantastical structures and situations I build. My work is rooted in my lived experience and the fixed and mutable nature of identity and place.
In 2015 I trained as a plumbing and heating engineer and work in the construction industry alongside my art activity. My business, PlumbMaid, focuses on supporting customers to transition to lower energy heating, and those who would prefer an alternative to traditional plumbing services. I am active in work to diversify the construction sector, presenting to industry events, panel discussions and podcasts. Prior to work within the arts I was a housing worker with the YWCA and co-founder of Truro Young Women’s Centre, a supportive advice, guidance and housing project for young women experiencing homelessness. This work developed from my personal experience of homelessness and precarious living. These experiences have allowed me to develop the critical socio-economic and political aspects of my practice.
I have been committed to championing artist-led activity throughout my work, having spoken at and represented artists at a number of forums including at the RADMIN conference convened by Kate Rich (2018), as a keynote at the DACS/ArtQuest SpacedOut conference (2018), as Vice Chair for Turning Point South West (now Visual Art South West) 2010-2012 and at ALIAS (the Artist Led Initiative Advisory Service) consultant becoming director 2009-2017. During my tenure at ALIAS I co-produced Dense Cluster, with G39, Spike Associates, and Bristol Diving School, a one-day festival which brought together artists from Wales and South West England, and led on Moving Forward and Staying the Same: Artist-Led Evolutions, a symposium with OSR Projects exploring the impact and responsibilities of artist-led projects and how they can grow whilst remaining manageable.
In 2020 I co-founded Agile Structures with artist Sara Bowler, which began as a four-day online conference to re-consider arts practice and behaviour in relation to Brexit and the Covid pandemic. I was the Clore Visual Art Fellow 2023/24 supported by a-n, and seconded to National Theatre Scotland. During the fellowship I developed my ReWilding Arts Leadership concept.
Through the Clore programme I also gained acreditation as a coach with RD1st and am now able to offer coaching alongside my mentoring, consultation and critical friend services. As a freelance practitioner I am also able to offer project management and production for events, exhibitions and symposia; and as an experienced arts educator - previously Course Lead Foundation Dip - Cornwall College, Fine Art 1st yr Lead Plymouth College of Art (now AUP) - I deliver workshops, presentations and under/post grad visiting tutor sessions.
Would you like to work with me? I’m open to conversations about working on new projects, and am happy to share initial thoughts, rates and more about my experience. Please get in touch via my contact form to arrange a 30min chat.
TEXTS & INTERVIEWS - relating to my work and projects
Thinking & Practise on the 10 year Anniversary of the Recognition of the Cornish as a National Minority , by Sovay Berriman
Sovay Berriman on Cornwall, Cornish identity, Eek! and Meskla, by Rupert White for Art Cornwall
Days out in a Renault Twingo, by Joanne Tatham
Everyday Constellations, an essay by Mary Paterson, for Synethsia, a Cultivator Cornwall and University of Plymouth project.
Drawing as Research, with Tate Learning
An Artist-Led Adventure, an article by Stephen Palmer for a-n, about Molluscs Hunt Wizards
Mildly Radical, Liz Rowe for Dense Cluster at Bristol Diving School.
That’s Entertainment, by Sacha Waldron for The Skinny, a review of Entertainement Suite in Oculist Witnesses, The Harris, Preston
Oculist Witnesses review by Sam Pickett for Corridor 8
Vanishing Point by Laura McLean Ferris for Oculist Witnesses
AUDIO - talks and in-conversations
Dreadnought South West, a conversation between Sovay Berriman and Josie Sutcliffe at Kresen Kernow, June 2023. This recording does not include the open discussion that followed Sovay & Josie’s conversation.
The Lock-in with Natalie Rigby - Sovay & Natalie talk about growing up in Cornwall, othering, neurodivergence, air-guitaring mums and inspirational nieces.
Artonomics: Supporting a Multifaceted Practice - Sovay Berriman & Lucy Harrison interviewed by Cathy Lomax for the Out of Space podcast
L-R: Recordning a MESKLA podcast, photo credit: Joe Blackman; Visiting lecturer presentation for Falmouth University, talking through a collaborative project with Dr Shelley Trower.
All work copyright the artist