Adrian Riley

Last updated
Adrian Riley
Adrian Riley with text artwork Come Follow Me at Grimsby Minster.jpg
Riley in 2022
Born1971 (age 5253)
Education Leeds 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.

Contents

Early life and education

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

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

Riley's work in the public realm includes:

Awards

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References

  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.