Biography
I completed my PhD in Victorian Art at University College Cork in 2011.The subject of my doctoral research focused on the role played by visual practices as a means to secure and amplify the identity and significance of urban spaces and locations. I gained my Masters Degree in Art History from City of Birmingham University in 1981, specialising in early twentieth-century painting. My Bachelor of Arts degree, gained from University College Falmouth in 1978, is in Fine Art. From 1982 to 1996 I lectured at Basingstoke College of Technology in both Painting and Art History. I moved to Ireland in 1996, and currently teach Art History at the Crawford College of Art and Design and at UCC.
My teaching and research interests in Art History include seventeenth-century Dutch art and nineteenth-century English genre painting. Developing my doctoral research I am currently writing on the subject of suburbia and its representation in the nineteenth century, focusing on the role played by a range of cultural practices deployed as a means to secure the suburb as urban signifer. As well as published articles, I continue to maintain my own practice as an artist, exhibiting in Ireland and abroad.
Research Interests
My research focuses on the problems raised by the urban setting during the nineteenth century and the extent to which visual practices, in conjunction with other modes of representation such as the novel, provided a means by which this complex setting could be decoded and thus navigated.
Alongside this consideration of the reciprocal relationship between text and image, more recent research foregrounds the extent to which visual practices used the identity of urban spaces and locations as signifiers through which the city could be made a legible site and social order reasserted. My current work focuses on the emergence of the suburb during the last quarter of the nineteenth century and the role played by a range of cultural practices in determining the characteristic features and thus the identity of this new and contested urban space.
Publications
Peer Reviewed Journals
| Year | Publication | |
|---|---|---|
| (2017) | 'Railway Visions: William Hyde's Re-Imagining of London as a Networked Space' Knowles, S (2017) 'Railway Visions: William Hyde's Re-Imagining of London as a Networked Space'. London Journal, 42 :291-310 [DOI] [Details] | |
| (2014) | 'Suburban Identity in Paul Maitland's paintings of Cheyne Walk' Simon Knowles (2014) 'Suburban Identity in Paul Maitland's paintings of Cheyne Walk'. Journal of Victorian Culture, 19 (1):43-62 [Details] | |
| (2011) | 'Pavement, Gutter, Carriageway: Social Order and Urban Spaces in the Work of W. P. Frith' Simon Knowles; (2011) 'Pavement, Gutter, Carriageway: Social Order and Urban Spaces in the Work of W. P. Frith'. Victorian Literature and Culture, 39 (2):349-365 [Details] | |
| (2008) | 'Two-Way Traffic: James McNeill Whistler and the Sister Arts Tradition' Simon Knowles; (2008) 'Two-Way Traffic: James McNeill Whistler and the Sister Arts Tradition'. Artefact, 2 (Winter):19-28 [Details] |
Conference Publications
| Year | Publication | |
|---|---|---|
| (2017) | Mapping Urban Changes Simon Knowles (2017) Bedford Park: Ruralism and the construction of heterotopic space in London’s suburban margin Mapping Urban Changes [Details] |
Artwork
| Year | Publication | |
|---|---|---|
| (2007) | 'Five Person Show', Kenny Gallery, Galway, Ireland. Simon Knowles (2007) 'Five Person Show', Kenny Gallery, Galway, Ireland. Artwork [Details] | |
| (2006) | 'Heterotopia', Solo Exhibition, Riverbank Arts Centre, Newbridge, County Kildare, Ireland. Simon Knowles; (2006) 'Heterotopia', Solo Exhibition, Riverbank Arts Centre, Newbridge, County Kildare, Ireland. Artwork [Details] | |
| (2005) | '1001 Reasons to Love the Earth', Selected Group Exhibition, Utrecht, Holland. Simon Knowles (participant); (2005) '1001 Reasons to Love the Earth', Selected Group Exhibition, Utrecht, Holland. Artwork [Details] | |
| (2004) | Solo Exhibition, The Private Collector's Gallery, Inishannon, Ireland. Simon Knowles; (2004) Solo Exhibition, The Private Collector's Gallery, Inishannon, Ireland. Artwork [Details] | |
| (2004) | 'C2, Cork City of Culture 2005', Selected Group Exhibition, Crawford Municipal Gallery, Cork, Ireland. Simon Knowles (participant); (2004) 'C2, Cork City of Culture 2005', Selected Group Exhibition, Crawford Municipal Gallery, Cork, Ireland. Artwork [Details] | |
| (2003) | 'Skylines', Solo Exhibition, Kilcock Gallery, Kilcock, Ireland. Simon Knowles; (2003) 'Skylines', Solo Exhibition, Kilcock Gallery, Kilcock, Ireland. Artwork [Details] | |
| (2003) | '1001 Reasons to Love the Earth', Selected Group Exhibition, Seoul, Korea. Simon Knowles (participant); (2003) '1001 Reasons to Love the Earth', Selected Group Exhibition, Seoul, Korea. Artwork [Details] | |
| (2002) | Solo Exhibition, South Tipperary Arts Centre, Clonmel, Ireland. Simon Knowles; (2002) Solo Exhibition, South Tipperary Arts Centre, Clonmel, Ireland. Artwork [Details] | |
| (2002) | Solo Exhibition, Mullingar Arts Centre, Mullingar, Ireland. Simon Knowles; (2002) Solo Exhibition, Mullingar Arts Centre, Mullingar, Ireland. Artwork [Details] | |
| (2001) | 'Focus on Drawing', City Art Gallery Limerick,Crawford Municipal Gallery, Cork, National College of Art and Design, Dublin, Ireland. Simon Knowles (participant); (2001) 'Focus on Drawing', City Art Gallery Limerick,Crawford Municipal Gallery, Cork, National College of Art and Design, Dublin, Ireland. Artwork [Details] | |
| (2001) | Second World Festival of Art on Paper. Selected Group Exhibition, Bled, Slovenia. Simon Knowles (participant); (2001) Second World Festival of Art on Paper. Selected Group Exhibition, Bled, Slovenia. Artwork [Details] | |
| (2000) | 'New Works', Solo Exhibition, Kilcock Gallery, Kilcock, Ireland. Simon Knowles; (2000) 'New Works', Solo Exhibition, Kilcock Gallery, Kilcock, Ireland. Artwork [Details] | |
| (1998) | 'S. O. S.' Selected Group Exhibition, Ardgillan Castle, Skerries, Ireland. Simon Knowles (participant); (1998) 'S. O. S.' Selected Group Exhibition, Ardgillan Castle, Skerries, Ireland. Artwork [Details] | |
| (1998) | Cork Art Trial 98, Group Exhibition, Cork, Ireland. Simon Knowles (participant); (1998) Cork Art Trial 98, Group Exhibition, Cork, Ireland. Artwork [Details] | |
| (1998) | Royal Hibernian Academy, Selected Group Exhibition, Royal Hibernian Gallery, Dublin, Ireland. Simon Knowles (participant); (1998) Royal Hibernian Academy, Selected Group Exhibition, Royal Hibernian Gallery, Dublin, Ireland. Artwork [Details] | |
| (1997) | Solo Exhibition, Sirius Arts Centre, Cobh, Ireland. Simon Knowles; (1997) Solo Exhibition, Sirius Arts Centre, Cobh, Ireland. Artwork [Details] | |
| (1997) | Solo Exhibition, Gallery 44, Cork, Ireland. Simon Knowles; (1997) Solo Exhibition, Gallery 44, Cork, Ireland. Artwork [Details] | |
| (1996) | Imperial Cancer Research Bi-Annual Exhibition. By invitation, Christies, London, UK. Simon Knowles (participant); (1996) Imperial Cancer Research Bi-Annual Exhibition. By invitation, Christies, London, UK. Artwork [Details] | |
| (1984) | 'The London Group', Selected Annual Group Exhibition, Royal College of Art, London, UK. Simon Knowles (participant); (1984) 'The London Group', Selected Annual Group Exhibition, Royal College of Art, London, UK. Artwork [Details] | |
| (1980) | Solo Exhibition, Cannon Hill, Midlands Arts Centre, Birmingham, UK. Simon Knowles; (1980) Solo Exhibition, Cannon Hill, Midlands Arts Centre, Birmingham, UK. Artwork [Details] | |
| (1980) | Birmingham Artists Group, Group Exhibition, Ikon Gallery, Birmingham, UK. Simon Knowles (participant); (1980) Birmingham Artists Group, Group Exhibition, Ikon Gallery, Birmingham, UK. Artwork [Details] | |
| (1980) | Solo Exhibition, Holt Street Gallery, Birmingham, UK . Simon Knowles; (1980) Solo Exhibition, Holt Street Gallery, Birmingham, UK . Artwork [Details] | |
| (1980) | 'Midland View', Selected Group Exhibition. Stoke on Trent City Art Gallery. Stoke on Trent, UK. Simon Knowles (participant); (1980) 'Midland View', Selected Group Exhibition. Stoke on Trent City Art Gallery. Stoke on Trent, UK. Artwork [Details] |
Book Reviews
| Year | Publication | |
|---|---|---|
| (2015) | Street Life in London: Context and Commentary by Emily Kathryn Morgan. Simon Knowles (2015) Street Life in London: Context and Commentary by Emily Kathryn Morgan. RoutledgemNew York: Book Reviews [Details] |
Review Articles
| Year | Publication | |
|---|---|---|
| (2015) | Reconfigurations: Prints of the Twentieth Century. Simon Knowles (2015) Reconfigurations: Prints of the Twentieth Century. Enclave Review: Review Articles [Details] |
Catalog
| Year | Publication | |
|---|---|---|
| (2007) | 'Five Person Show'. Exhibition catalogue, Kenny Gallery, Galway, Ireland. Simon Knowles (2007) 'Five Person Show'. Exhibition catalogue, Kenny Gallery, Galway, Ireland. Catalog [Details] | |
| (2005) | 'C2 Contemporary Art from Cork'. Exhibition catalogue, Crawford Municipal Art Gallery, Cork, Ireland. Simon Knowles; (2005) 'C2 Contemporary Art from Cork'. Exhibition catalogue, Crawford Municipal Art Gallery, Cork, Ireland. Catalog [Details] | |
| (2003) | '1001 Reasons to Love the Earth'. Group Exhibition Catalogue, Seoul, Korea and Utrecht, Holland. Simon Knowles; (2003) '1001 Reasons to Love the Earth'. Group Exhibition Catalogue, Seoul, Korea and Utrecht, Holland. Catalog [Details] | |
| (2003) | 'Skylines'. Solo Exhibition Catalogue, Kilcock Gallery, Kilcock, Ireland. Simon Knowles; (2003) 'Skylines'. Solo Exhibition Catalogue, Kilcock Gallery, Kilcock, Ireland. Catalog [Details] | |
| (2001) | 'Second World Festival of Art on Paper'. Group Exhibition Catalogue, Bled, Slovenia. Simon Knowles; (2001) 'Second World Festival of Art on Paper'. Group Exhibition Catalogue, Bled, Slovenia. Catalog [Details] | |
| (2000) | 'New Works'. Solo Exhibition Catalogue, Kilcock Gallery, Kilcock, Ireland. Simon Knowles; (2000) 'New Works'. Solo Exhibition Catalogue, Kilcock Gallery, Kilcock, Ireland. Catalog [Details] |
Professional Activities
Honours and Awards
| Year | Title | Awarding Body | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Artist's Exhibition Grant, British Arts Council | British Arts Council |
Professional Associations
| Association | Function | From / To | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Association of Art Historians | Member | / |
Conference Contributions
| Year | Publication | |
|---|---|---|
| (2017) | Mapping Urban Changes, Simon Knowles (2017) Bedford Park: Ruralism and the construction of heterotopic space in London’s suburban margin. [Invited Lectures (Conference)], Mapping Urban Changes, Dubrovnik, Croatia . [Details] | |
| (2014) | Urbansim and Urbanity: Nineteenth Century Studies Association, USA, Simon Knowles (2014) Urban Mobility and the networked city in four illustrations of London by William Hyde. [Oral Presentation], Urbansim and Urbanity: Nineteenth Century Studies Association, USA, Chicago , 20-MAR-14 - 22-FEB-14. [Details] | |
| (2012) | Association of Art Historians Annual Conference, Milton Keynes, UK, Simon Knowles (2012) From Centre to Suburb: The female walker in the work of John Atkinson Grimshaw. [Oral Presentation], Association of Art Historians Annual Conference, Milton Keynes, UK, Open University Milton Keynes United Kingdom , 29-MAR-12 - 31-MAR-12. [Details] | |
| (2011) | Comparing: University College Cork, Ireland, Simon Knowles; (2011) Suburban Dreaming in the work of John Atkinson Grimshaw. [Oral Presentation], Comparing: University College Cork, Ireland, University College Cork , 05-SEP-11 - 09-SEP-11. [Details] | |
| (2008) | Artefact Conference: Dublin, Ireland, Simon Knowles; (2008) Two-Way Traffic: The Sister Arts Tradition and Urban Representation in Nineteenth Century England. [Oral Presentation], Artefact Conference: Dublin, Ireland, Dublin , 01-MAR-08 - 01-MAR-08. [Details] | |
| (2007) | Conference on Current Graduate Research, University College Cork, Ireland, Simon Knowles; (2007) Representations of street life in London during the second half of the nineteenth century. [Oral Presentation], Conference on Current Graduate Research, University College Cork, Ireland, University College Cork , 11-DEC-07 - 11-DEC-07. [Details] |
Committees
| Committee | Function | From / To | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steering Committee for the Diploma in European Art History | / |
Employment
| Employer | Position | From / To | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cork Institute of Technology: Crawford College of Art and Design | Associate Lecturer | / | |
| Basingstoke Institute of Technology | Head of School | 01-JAN-95 / 31-DEC-96 | |
| Basingstoke Institute of Technology | Senior Lecturer | 01-JAN-91 / 31-DEC-95 | |
| Basingstoke Institute of Technology | Lecturer | 01-JAN-82 / 31-DEC-91 |
Education
| Year | Institution | Qualification | Subject | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | University College Cork | PhD | Changing Perspectives, Altering Perceptions: Picturing the London Street as Narrative Space | |
| 1982 | Birmingham City University | M.A. | History of Art | |
| 1978 | University College Falmouth | B.A. | Fine Art |
Consultancy
| Client | Description | |
|---|---|---|
| Reading College and School of Art and Design | ||
| Lewisham College | ||
| National Grammar School for the Deaf, UK. |
Other Activities
| Description | |
|---|---|
Visiting Speaker. Lecture Title: 'The Exotic Landscapes of Frans Post.' Location: The National Gallery, Dublin. Date: December 2012. | |
Visiting Speaker. Lecture Title: 'Whistler and the Sister Arts Tradition.' Location: The National Gallery, Dublin. Date: November 2012. | |
Visiting Speaker. Lecture Title: 'Authenticity, anonymity and the poor: Paul Maitland's paintings of Cheyne Walk.' Location: Eye and Mind, University College Cork. Date: February 2012. | |
Visiting Speaker. Lecture title: 'Frank Phelan: The Persistence of Modernism.' Location: Wandsworth Quay Gallery, Cork. Date: October 2010. | |
Visiting Speaker. Lecture title: 'Street Life in Victorian Genre Painting.' Location: The Crawford Gallery, Cork. Date: March 2008. | |
Visiting Speaker. Lecture title: 'The Role of Women in Victorian Genre Painting.' Location: The Hunt Museum, Limerick. Date: November 2007. | |
Visting Speaker. Lecture title: 'Hogarth and the Foundation of the English School.' Location: The Hunt Museum, Limerick. Date: February 2006. |
Teaching Activities
Teaching Interests
My primary teaching interest focuses on the representation of daily life in seventeenth-century Dutch art, eighteenth-century French art and nineteenth-century English art. I am also interested in the development and eventual decline of the Academic tradition during the nineteenth century, both in Europe and in North America. In addition I am also particularly interested in the urban setting, the development of suburbia, the significance of location within the representation of daily life and in the role played by landscape as a signifier of nationhood.Modules Taught
| Term (ID)) | Title | Link | Subject | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Tradition and Innovation and the Art of the Academy in the Nineteenth Century | HA3006 | Tradition and Innovation and the Art of the Academy in the Nineteenth Century |