Naomi McIntosh

Naomi Mcintosh is a designer, maker and educator having studied Architecture at the Bartlett School of Architecture, University College London, and Design MA from Central Saint Martins in London. She is based in the Cairngorm National Park, Scotland.

Drawing and drawing conventions, the representation of spaces and the relationship between objects and human scale are key themes. She sees both architecture and design as disciplines which are about the relationship between the body, objects and spaces. Drawing is the starting point for every project. Precise geometry, repetition, pattern making and the interpretation of spaces are themes used throughout and using lines, the pieces created are about makings space and defining volumes without boundaries.

She employs a holistic approach to her work. Predicated on a belief that everything is interconnected, she aims to capture and share the experience of being in a constantly changing, beautiful and expansive landscape through her work. She explores the passing of time, seasonality and the ever present experience of nature. Her work recreates her experiences of place, discovered whilst being exposed to the elements and quiet solitude. She is interested in the creation of objects that capture the intangible qualities, working at different scales, from wearable objects to sculptural and immersive installations.

Working mainly in wood, Naomi uses a broad range of skills using digital and hand processes, taking inspiration from movement, patterns, architecture, landscape and the natural world. By using planes and lines, forms are suggested, capturing volumes, transforming 2D surfaces into 3D objects. With precise geometry the pieces explore the relationship between the body and objects, and how volumes, patterns, planes and forms are seen.

Naomi showcased at London Design Biennale in collaboration with Ruup & From (2021) Collect (UK, 2020), Crafted Vision (USA, 2017) CODA Museum (Netherlands, 2017), Museum of Art and Design (USA) and has been commissioned by Royal Academy of Arts amongst many other exhibitions. She was the Lead Designer on the 2018 V&A Dundee Scottish Design Relay project for Aberdeen working with young designers to celebrate design heritage, ‘Parallel Practices’ with Informatics at Kings College London and the Crafts Council, and a 2016/2017/2022 residency with the British Council in Thailand and Scotland.

Download Artist's CV

EDUCATION:

MA DESIGN Central Saint Martins, University of the Arts London, UK
BSC ARCHITECTURE The Bartlett School of Architecture, University College London, UK

MUSEUM COLLECTIONS:
2019 Historic Environment Scotland, Duff House, Aberdeenshire UK.
2016 Fitzwilliam Museum, Collection, Cambridge, UK
2011 Aberdeen Art gallery and Museum Collection, Aberdeen UK

SELECTED EXHIBITIONS:

2023 CITY ART CENTRE, ’Natural Environment’City Art Center, Edinburgh
SOMERSET HOUSE, ’COLLECT’ London, UK represented by Ruup & Form
LONDON ART FAIR, London, UK represented by Ruup & Form
2022 TWO TEMPLE PLACE, ‘Eye of the Collector, represented by Ruup & Form
SOMERSET HOUSE, ‘COLLECT’ London, UK represented by Ruup & Form
LONDON ART FAIR, London, UK represented by Ruup & Form
2021 SOMERSET HOUSE, ‘COLLECT’ London, UK represented by Ruup & Form
LONDON DESIGN BIENNALE, London, UK in collaboration with Ruup & Form
2020 SOMERSET HOUSE, ‘COLLECT’ London, UK represented by Craft Scotland
2019 ROYAL SCOTTISH ACADEMY, ‘Wood’, Edinburgh, UK MARCHMONT HOUSE, ‘Conversations in Wood’, VAS and Craft Scotland
ST MARGARETS BRAEMAR, ‘Music Making Landscapes’ Part 1, Braemar, UK DUFF HOUSE and STIRLING CASTLE, Lighting informed by Early Silver,
GALERY LULO, ‘Paper Landscapes 2’, Healdsburgh, CA, USA
2018 CONTEMPORARY APPLIED ARTS, ‘Colour Exploration’ London UK CONTEMPORARY APPLIED ARTS, ‘Materials’, London UK GALERY LULO, ‘Paper Landscapes’, Healdsburgh, CA USA HEALS, ‘Tessellating Jewellery’ Window Display, curated by Craft Scotland
2017 FUTURE HERITAGE, Decorex International, London, UK
CODA Museum, Paper Art, Apeldoorn Netherlands
PATINA Gallery, Crafted Visions, Santa Fe, USA
2016 LONDON DESIGN FESTIVAL – Scottish Craft and Design Pavilion. BOTANICAL GARDENS EDINBURGH, ‘New for Old’, Scottish Thai Exchange. SCULPTURAL OBJECTS AND FUNCTIONAL ART (SOFA), Chicago USA
2015 NORTON MUSEUM ‘BIJOUX’, West Palm Beach, USA
LESLEY CRAZE GALLERY, ’30 years in the making’ London, UK
MUSEUM OF ART AND DESIGN, (MAD) Store Showcase, NYC, USA
ROYAL ACADEMY OF ARTS, Shop showcase, London, UK
SCULPTURAL OBJECTS AND FUNCTIONAL ART (SOFA), Chicago USA
OPEN EYE GALLERY, Edinburgh, UK
ART PALM BEACH, Palm Beach, USA - Represented by Whitespace Gallery
2014 MUSEUM OF ART AND DESIGN, (MAD) ‘LOOT’, NYC, USA
SCULPTURAL OBJECTS AND FUNCTIONAL ART (SOFA), Chicago USA MUSEUM OF FINE ART MONTREAL ’Art/Bijoux’, Montreal, Canada
HEALS ‘Discover Modern Craft’, London, UK
THE SCOTTISH GALLERY, ‘Northern Lights’, Edinburgh, UK NORTON MUSEUM ‘BIJOUX’, West Palm Beach, USA
2013 SCULPTURAL OBJECTS AND FUNCTIONAL ART (SOFA), Chicago USA
CONTEMPORARY APPLIED ARTS, ‘Model: Making’, London, UK
INVERNESS ART GALLERY, “MYM with Craft Scotland’, Inverness, UK
DOVECOT ‘Follow The Thread’ Edinburgh, UK MANCHESTER ART GALLERY, ‘Contemporary Jewellery’, Manchester, UK
BENCHMARK, Craft Central, London, UK2012
THE SCOTTISH GALLERY, ‘Solo Showcase.’ Edinburgh, UK
THE SAATCHI GALLERY, ‘COLLECT’ Represented by Lesley Craze, London, UK MUSEUM OF ART AND DESIGN, (MAD) ‘LOOT’, NYC, USA
YORKSHIRE SCULPTURE PARK, ‘MADE’, UK

RESIDENCIES, FUNDING AND AWARDS:

2022/2023 Bothy Project, Inchriach
2022 British Council Thailand CTC Award ‘Woven Forest’.
2020 Inches Carr Award for Craft
2017 and 2016 British Council – Phrae, Thailand, Skill sharing,
2016 Craft Council/KCL, Parallel Practices
2014 Aberdeenshire Council/ Creative Scotland
2013 Travel Bursary Creative Scotland
2013 Cove Park, Emerging Designer/Maker Residency,
Craft Council ‘Hothouse’

SELECTED TEACHING WORKSHOPS LECTURES:

2019 - 2022
Lecturer and Researcher in Jewellery and Design.
Grays School of Art, Robert Gordon University. Aberdeen UK
Duff House, Banff – Workshop Leader
Royal Scottish National Orchestra and Tayside Arts Health Trust, Dundee - Invited artist
Conversations in Wood – Marchmount House - Speaker

2019Glasgow City College, Convergence: Traditional Skills, New Contexts - Speaker

2018Cove Park, Cove, UK - Workshop LeaderRoyal Scottish National Orchestra and Tayside Arts Health Trust, Dundee UK - Invited artist
EXPONorth, Conference, Inverness, UK - Speaker
V&A Dundee, ‘Scottish Design Relay’ UK - Lead Designer Aberdeen
Heals, London UK - Lead Designer Jewellery Workshops - British Council - Pattaya, Thailand - Speaker / Tutor / Collaborator
Craft Scotland Conference Dundee Library, UK - Speaker and Workshop Leader Decorex, Future Heritage, Syon House, UK - Speaker

2017
10x10 Design Connections, British Council London, UK - Speaker
2016Grays School of Art, Aberdeen - Visiting Lecturer
Parallel Practices - Making Workshops Kings College London, London, UK - Workshop Leader ‘New for Old’ - Paper Jewellery Workshops, Royal Botanical gardens, Edinburgh, UK - Workshop leader
Skill Sharing workshops, British Council, Phrae, Thailand - Workshop Leader
Craft Scotland - training event for SOFA. National Museum, Edinburgh, UK – Speaker
‘Interdisciplinary Practice’. NYU, Stern Business School, USA – Visiting Lecturer
2015Craft Symposium - Dovecot, Edinburgh, UK - Speaker
‘Materials in Contemporary jewellery’ – Panel Discussion with Hedone Gallery Sculptural Objects and Functional Art (SOFA) Navy Pier, Chicago
2013/4Inverness Art Gallery and Museum, Inverness, UK - Workshop‘Model: Making’, Contemporary Craft Practices and Technology in Design’ Contemporary Applied Arts, London, UK- Speaker