Neil Bousfield

Neil Bousfield is a Lecturer in Illustration at Norwich University of the Arts (NUA), with a fractional role after over a decade of full-time teaching. He holds a BA (Hons) in Animation, an MSc in Graphical Computing Technologies, and an MA in Printmaking. His practice bridges art and academia, focusing on drawing, relief printmaking, and the interplay of memory, place, and environment. His work explores notions of home, coastal communities, and geological narratives, often addressing climate change's impact on landscapes. Bousfield has exhibited internationally, including solo and group shows at venues like the Ashmolean Museum (Oxford), Royal Academy of Arts, and the Society of Wood Engravers' touring exhibitions. He has been awarded prestigious prizes such as the Rachel Reckitt Prize and is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Painter-Printmakers (RE). His collaborative projects include community-based initiatives like 'Mapping the Broads' and 'Water, Mills and Marshes,' merging art with environmental and social discourse.

Education:

• BA (Hons) Animation
• MSc Graphical Computing Technologies
• MA Printmaking

Research Interests: Neil’s work interrogates the concept of 'place' through environmental narratives, memory, and human-landscape relationships. His practice investigates how geographical and environmental changes influence identity and belonging, particularly in contested coastal regions. By combining traditional printmaking techniques with contemporary themes, he critiques rising sea levels and their socio-cultural implications. His projects often involve collaborative community mapping, blending art with activism.

Awards:

• 2018: Rachel Reckitt Prize (First Prize)
• 2017: Printmakers Prize (Solo Show Award)
• 2012: SWE 75th Anniversary Prize
• 2007: Rebecca Smith Award

Advising & Grants: While no formal student advisees are listed, Neil’s teaching and collaborative projects reflect mentorship in art practice. His work has been supported by institutions such as the Heritage Lottery Fund and the Broads Authority through initiatives like the 'Mapping the Broads' project.

Labs/Teams: Active in Norwich University of the Arts’ Illustration programs and collaborates with the Society of Wood Engravers, contributing to exhibitions and printmaking symposiums. His work is featured in institutional collections and he maintains a solo practice with retrospectives like 'Neil Bousfield: Engravings' (2014).