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Image by Martin Safro

UPCOMING EXHIBITIONS

August 2023      Four Seasons, West Cork Creates, Union Hall, Ireland

September 2023   Solo Exhibition, Boiler Room, Blue House Gallery, Schull, Ireland

BIO

Born in Yorkshire in 1992, Harriet is an Edinburgh based painter and photographer. 

ARTIST STATEMENT

Observing people and natural bodies of water are at the core of my artistic practice. To be still and observe is both powerful and therapeutic. I find that on public transport is a particularly good place to be able to sit and stare at strangers, observing the furrow of a brow or a wry smile whilst obliviously staring at a screen or out of the window. Having someone sit for you is an even more powerful way to stare, observe and absorb a person’s being.

To sit by a large expanse of clam open water invites all of your senses to take a moment and appreciate. I hope to capture this deep breath feeling within my waterscapes. I embrace both painting and photography in my artistic practice and like to experiment with textures in both the darkroom and studio.

For information on portrait commissions, click here.

For information on wedding photography, click here.

PRESS

2022   BBC Radio Scotland, The Afternoon Show, 13 minute interview with Janice Forsyth

       Sunday Post feature by Jan Patience

2021   Sky Portrait Artist of the Year Season 8, Episode 4

       Review of Portrait Artist of the Year on blog Making a Mark

2019   Blogpost by Vivien Devlin

2018   Mention in blog Roaring Water Bay Journal

2017   Winkball video interview at The Other Art Fair

SELECTED EXHIBITIONS

2023   Scottish Portrait Awards 2022 Edinburgh, Banff, Glasgow, UK

2022   Royal Academy Summer Exhibition 2022 (invited artist) London, UK

       Mythical Political,  Fire Station Creative, Dunfermline, Fife, UK

       Bones (solo show),  Wasps South Block, Glasgow, UK

2021   Splint, studio of David Mach RA, London, UK

       Figurative Art Now, Federation of British Artists / Mall Galleries (online)

       SSA Contemporary Figures, Scottish Society of Artists (online)

       Harriet Selka artist in residence, Mayvn, 127 George Street, Edinburgh, UK

       Screen Test, Wasps Artist Studios (online)

       Paint MattersESOP, The Art Pavilion, Mile End Park, London, UK

2020   Harriet Selka Mini Exhibition at Jessica Buckley Interiors, Edinburgh, UK

       Harvest with West Cork Creates, Skibbereen, Ireland

2019   Fresh Zest (Solo Show), Pop Up Edinburgh, 17 Dundas Street, Edinburgh, UK

       Into the Woods, with West Cork Creates, Skibbereen, Ireland
       Ruth Borchard Self-Portrait Prize 2019, Piano Nobile Kings Place, London, UK

2018   Scottish Portrait Awards 2018, Scottish Arts Club, Edinburgh and Glasgow, UK

       Under Shelter with West Cork Creates, Skibbereen, Ireland

2017   Inscape, Dundas Street Gallery, Edinburgh, UK
       Scottish Portrait Awards 2017, Scottish Arts Club, Edinburgh, UK

       The Other Art Fair, Old Truman Brewery, Brick Lane, London, UK

       RSA Open 2017, Royal Scottish Academy, Edinburgh, UK
       West Cork History Festival, Skibbereen, West Cork, Ireland

2016   RSA Open Exhibition 2016, Royal Scottish Academy, Edinburgh, UK

       Harriet Selka, The Barn, Spencertown, NY, USA

       space: dependent on the mind/ independent of time, 3 Ada Road, London, UK

2015   ex, blip blip blip, East Street Arts, Patrick Studios, Leeds, UK

       Upstairs @ Blue House, Blue House Gallery, Schull, West Cork, Ireland

       Degree Show, Edinburgh College of Art, UK

AWARDS

2022   Scottish Portrait Awards, selected artist

2020   The Essential School of Painting Scholarship, awarded for The Bigger Picture

2019   Ruth Borchard Self-Portrait Prize, selected artist
2018   Scottish Portrait Awards, selected artist
2017   Royal Scottish Academy Latimer Award, winner

       Scottish Portrait Awards, selected artist

2015   Astaire Art Prize, Edinburgh College of Art, shortlisted

EDUCATION

2020 – 2021   The Essential School of Painting, London

              The Bigger Picture (Post-graduate)

2012 – 2015   Edinburgh College of Art, University of Edinburgh

              BA (Hons) Painting

2011 – 2012   Leeds College of Art
              Foundation Diploma in Art & Design

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