Community building is integral to my art practice.

I offer mentorship and workshops in materiality, performance, and textiles for individuals, groups, institutions and organisations. I also like to lead conversations that are critical in a supportive and nourishing way and can help folk to develop ideas and shift existing work. I like to form comforting spaces for us to exist, play with interesting materials and ideas, and talk about our creative experiences.

I want to make art accessible, engaging and inclusive for those who are interested in the wonders of painting, performance and material squishing. As well as for those who think art is an elusive and hierarchical club that is all a wee bit confusing.

I am interested in, but not exclusively focussed on, working in places that are perceived as outside of urban centres, working with queer and inclusive run spaces, and with organisations that are interested in building genuine connections with the communities that surround them.

Alongside being an artists, I have 15 years experience as a Social Care Worker supporting adults with disabilities and life long conditions.

If you would like to discuss ways to work together please give me an email on vivianmrosssmith[at]gmail[dot]com or drop me a DM on Instagram.

Selected examples of the work I do:

One-to-one mentorship for artists supporting idea development, and exploring materiality, performance, textiles processes and more.
Lecturer in Fine Art and Visual Culture for UWE Bristol, Swansea College of Art and University of The Highlands and Islands.
As Programme Coordinator at artist-led org, Gaada, I supported artists in weekly art workshops to develop a creative practice.
For three years I was workshop leader for Shetland Arts’ Arts in Care programme.

Selected workshop I have run:

Animation workshops for adults and children funded by The Scottish Governments’ Autism Strategy.

Banner making workshops for adults with disabilities on behalf of Project Ability and COP26.
Drop in workshops for adults to learn how to make and stitch with fish leather in Denmark, Newfoundland and Shetland.
Blanket making workshop with The LGBTQ+ Blanket Project as part of my solo show Holding Place.
Queer Crafting workshops for Queertawe, and at Out and Wild, the UK’s biggest festival for lesbian, bi, trans and queer women and those who are non-binary.

Please see my CV for a full overview of my experience.