About | Biography

Originally from Matlock in Derbyshire, Tansy gained a BA(Hons) in Three-Dimensional Design from Manchester Metropolitan University. Following three years working as a puppet maker and performer, she moved to Edinburgh to practice as a Community Artist and studied Community Education at Post Graduate level.

For 25 years Tansy has used art and creativity as a medium to support marginalised communities in community development projects throughout Central Scotland. In 2008 she set up her studio in Edinburgh’s St. Margaret’s House to focus more fully on her drawing and in 2017 she moved to her purpose-built garden studio in South Queensferry, where she now works full-time as an artist and educator.

Since 2011 Tansy has exhibited and curated around Scotland and beyond. In 2015 she was commissioned by South Yorkshire Biodiversity Research Group to work with Professor Ian Rotherham on ‘Tree Stories’, an Arts Council England funded project in the Peak District examining tree carving and graffiti. In 2016-17 she was artist in residence at Howden Park Centre, Livingston, collaborating with poet and photographer Steve Smart to produce ‘Drawing Breath’, inspired by Calder Wood, West Lothian.

She curated ‘Grown Together’ in 2017 at St Margaret’s House, Edinburgh, which brought together the work of 20 artists and makers for whom trees were central to their work. In 2018 she collaborated with artist Anne Gilchrist to document Dalkeith Old Wood, Midlothian, with its nationally important collection of ancient oaks, presenting ‘Dead Wood and New Leaves’ at the European Wood Pastures conference at Sheffield Hallam University.

Her most recent solo show ‘Turning Towards the Light’ was at Linlithgow Burgh Halls in 2022 and she has curated a group show about Calder Wood there for winter 2023. She was artist in residence at The Old Lock Up Gallery, Cromford and completed a commission residency at Marchmont House in June 2023.

Her work is in private collections around the UK, Europe and the USA.

«Full CV here»

share: