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 Matters, ESOP, 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