Dr Ralph Darbyshire is Subject Leader for the BA (Hons) Fine Art course. He is level 6 year tutor, and teaches on the MA Fine Art programme and has acted as both first and second supervisor to a number of PhD students. He holds a practice-led PhD from The University of Plymouth (Art, Activism and the Vulnerability of Message), an MA in Sculpture Studies from The University of Leeds, a BA (Hons) in Fine Art from Exeter College of Art and Design, and is a Senior Fellow of The Higher Education Academy. He is currently External Examiner for Liverpool John Moores University.

Working as a studio assistant to the late American artist Edward Kienholz had an appreciable impact on Ralph’s practice, as well as to his understanding of the multifarious roles of the artist. He works across sculpture, painting, installation and photography to question and chronical the contemporary consequences of historical events as witnessed while traveling as a photographer and independent researcher in places of conflict and upheaval, such as El Salvador, Guatemala, Cambodia, Burma/Myanmar, Rwanda, Bangladesh, Kalimantan, Western Sahara and most recently Liberia and Sierra Leone. He is also interested in the global hybridization of myth and folk traditions, particularly those evident in his native Merseyside.

Exhibitions

Sefton Open, Atkinson Gallery, Southport. 2023.

Leeds Artists Show, Leeds City Art Gallery. 2023.

Sefton Open, Atkinson Gallery, Southport. 2022.

The Vagaries and Misconceptions of the Modern Man, Vane Gallery, Newcastle. 2018

Shelagh Fenner, A Retrospective, Atkinson Gallery, Southport. 2016.

An Embarrassment of Stains, Camp Joffre, Guildhall, Northampton, as part of Holocaust Memorial events. 2015.

An Embarrassment of Stains, Camp Joffre, The Quillan Gallery, SW France. 2014.

Un Dialogue Ouvert, Paysage Conteste, St Paul de Fenouillet, South West France. Dr Stefanie Pratt, The University of Plymouth, Emeritus Professor Sam Smiles, The University of Exeter. Patric Marquet, Regional Council of Languedoc Roussillon. 2013.

An Embarrassment of Stains, Camp Joffre. Les Anciens Thermes, SW France. Forward by Emeritus Professor Sam Smiles, Interview by Melissa Appleton. 2013. 2013.

Red Hot and Dutch, University of New Orleans Gallery, University of New Orleans, Louisiana, USA. 2005.

Liverpool Goes East, Liverpool Biennial of Contemporary Art, Liverpool. Group show. 2004.

See What You Can Do, Wetterling Teo Gallery, Singapore. 2004.

Untitled Group, Write Street MOMA, Southport. Group show. 2002.

Simpatico, College of Fine Arts, Shanghi University, China. Group show. 2002.

Red Hot and Dutch, Static Gallery, Liverpool. 2000.

Synergy, Orebro Castle, Orebro, Sweden. Group show. 2000.

Still a Stain on Silence, Liverpool Biennial of Contemporary Art, Static Gallery, Liverpool. 1999.

A Strangers Breath, Blackthorn gallery, Birkenhead. 1998.

Of Bad Places, Atkinson Art Gallery, Southport. 1997.

Network 95, St Helens Gallery, St Helens. Group show. 1995.

Centra, Albert Dock, Liverpool. Group show. 1994.

Just Three, Acorn Gallery, Liverpool. Group show. 1994.

The Paintings of Dave Bullock, A Retrospective, Merkmal Gallery, Liverpool. 1993.

Liverpool Now: a Survey, Merkmal Gallery, Liverpool. 1992.

Fraserburgh Dramatic and Visual Arts Festival, Fraserburgh. Group show. 1991.

Visit to Saviour, Macduff Town Hall Gallery, Macduff. 1991.

Publications

An Embarrassment of Stains, Camp Joffre. Les Anciens Thermes, SW France. Forward by Emeritus Professor Sam Smiles, Interview by Melissa Appleton. 2013.

Rashid Rana at the Cornerhouse, Manchester, New York Arts Magazine. 2011.

Doris Salcedo Creates a Distraction, Delivered at the University of Plymouth. 2010.

Time and Place, (Selected) Lakeside Gallery, Southport. Group Show. 2010.

Agnes Denes’ Wheatfield Nudges 30, New York Arts Magazine. 2010.

The Longevity of Un-solicited Responses, Delivered at The University of Plymouth. 2009.

Kienholz at the National: The Hoerengracht, New York Arts Magazine. 2009.

Edward Kienholz: Nearly Great, Delivered at the University of Plymouth. 2009.

Htein Lin: A Saccharin Sacrifice, New York Arts Magazine. 2008.

No Rules Of Engagement, Delivered at The University of Plymouth. 2008.

Crack Shaudenfreuder: Peter Eisenman’s Berlin Memorial Turns Two, New York Arts Magazine. 2008.

No free radicals: On John Moores 24 Painting Competition, New York Arts Magazine. Feature. 2007.

Christian Boltanski is not an Activist Artist, Delivered at The University of Plymouth. 2007.

Art as Panic Attack: Thomas Hirschhorn at The Gladstone Gallery, New York Arts Magazine. 2006.

A Vacuous Signifier for an Emergent Biennial City: Sarah Lucas at Tate Liverpool. New York Arts Magazine. 2006.