Overview

The British Isles hold a unique position in the history of art, a place where local traditions fuse with international ideas. At once isolated by coastal boundaries, yet also part of larger networks of diverse peoples, these islands have always benefited from a dual perspective. Artistic creativity in the British Isles stretches back to Ice Age engravings of reindeer, horses, and birds. International networks were already shaping prehistoric art and by 1,000 CE artists working in Britain and Ireland were using lapis lazuli from Afghanistan, walrus tusks from Greenland, garnets from India, and elephant ivory from Africa. The Romans, Anglo-Saxons, Vikings, and Normans introduced new styles from overseas, as did later European artists, attracted by the wealth of royal courts. Art was traded and looted across the British empire by explorers, merchants, and the military. In the course of the twentieth century these islands have been a refuge, but also a place where migrants have faced resistance. Sculptures by Jewish immigrants fleeing Nazi death camps, paintings by post-war Caribbean artists, and protest murals sparked by the Troubles in Northern Ireland all express artists' complex relationships with the idea of home. Many artists today consciously reflect on this history in their work, exploring concepts of identity and belonging.

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Charlotte Mullins is an art critic, writer, and broadcaster. She has published over a dozen books on visual art, including A Little History of Art. She contributes to the weekly column 'My Favourite Painting' for Country Life, is the presenter of the podcast Making a Mark for the Cristea Roberts Gallery, and is a regular reviewer on BBC Radio 4's Front Row. Rachael Beresford is a British classically trained actress and voice talent. With a precise, engaging, and entertaining voice, Rachael enjoys working with authors to convey their story and enhance their tale, breathe life into a character, and make the world of a narration come alive. As an audiobook narrator, she has recorded bestselling books, including titles nominated for the International Man Booker Prize and Waterstones Children's Book of the Year 2017. A member of Equity and The Voice Over Network, Rachael is a passionate believer in continuous professional development and consistently attends training courses and networking events. With two beautiful daughters and one handsome husband, Rachael lives in West Sussex, England. When she isn't reading a book out loud for work, she can be found reading one for pleasure.

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