Joan Smith
Natural/History
1 January - 31 March 2025
Natural/History is a selection of drawings, paintings, collages and prints that explore the richness and complexity of the natural world, interpreted and represented in archives and museum collections. Inspiration has come from a range of sources, including the anatomy museum in the Ecole des Beaux Arts, Paris, Surgeons Hall Library, Edinburgh, The Pitt Rivers Museum, Oxford, The University of Edinburgh Old Medical School and the Scottish Ornithology Club archive as well as my own collections and my garden.

I try to reconfigure memories of these places and things, using collage and mixed media to emphasise rich juxtapositions, contrasts and alignments. The works are constructed from source material (observational drawings, photographs, maps, diagrams and texts) combined with imaginary, often abstracted forms and marks.

I often work in series, so individual artworks feed off and influence others in their group. Many are inspired by a fascination with representations of human anatomy while others reference my interests in anthropology, ornithology and botany. I like to play with reality and invention, hinting at connections.
Joan Smith: Archive
Gouache and ink on paper
30.5" x 23" (78 x 58cm)
£650
© 2024 Joan Smith
Joan Smith: Natural History
Gouache and ink on paper
30.5" x 23" (78 x 58cm)
£650
© 2024 Joan Smith
Joan Smith: Endangered
Monoprint, pastel and pencil on paper
30" x 44" (76 x 112cm)
£1250
© 2024 Joan Smith
Joan Smith: Schematic
Acrylic paint and pencil on card
11.5" x 11" (29.5 x 28cm)
£375
© 2024 Joan Smith
Joan Smith: Exquisite Corps 9: Spine
Collage, acrylic and watercolour on paper
7.5" x 7.5" (19 x 19cm)
£175
© 2024 Joan Smith
Joan Smith: Stomata
Acrylic paint, ink, pastel and watercolour on paper
11" x 11" (28 x 28cm)
£375
© 2024 Joan Smith
Joan Smith: Graft
Acrylic paint, ink, pastel and watercolour on paper
11" x 11" (28 x 28cm)
£375
© 2024 Joan Smith
Joan Smith: Anatomy
Watercolour, gouache and pencil on paper
10" x 10" (25 x 25cm)
£375
© 2024 Joan Smith
Joan Smith: Candelabra
Screen print (Artist Proof)
27" x 39" (69 x 100cm)
£375
© 2024 Joan Smith
Joan Smith: Solanum
Acrylic paint, ink, pastel and watercolour on paper
11" x 11" (28 x 28cm)
£375
© 2024 Joan Smith
Joan Smith: Water’s  Edge
Oil paint on copper mounted on wood panel
13.5" x 12" (35 x 30cm) Framed size
£525
© 2024 Joan Smith
Joan Smith: Amulet
Pastel pencil on paper
42.5" x 29" (108 x 73cm)
£650
© 2024 Joan Smith
Joan Smith: Lorica
Charcoal and compressed charcoal on  paper
30" x 22.5" (75cm x 57cm)
£650
© 2024 Joan Smith
Joan Smith: Red List
Monoprint, pastel and gouache on paper
39" x 27.5" (100 x 70cm)
£900
© 2024 Joan Smith
Joan Smith: Blanket Flower
Acrylic paint, ink, pastel and watercolour on paper
11" x 11" (28 x 28cm)
£375
© 2024 Joan Smith
Joan Smith: Exquisite Corps 2: Comparative Anatomy
Collage, acrylic paint and pencil on paper
15" x 7.5" (38 x 19cm)
£175
© 2024 Joan Smith
Joan Smith: Exquisite Corps 7: Being
Collage, acrylic and watercolour on paper
8" x 6" (20 x 15cm)
£175
© 2024 Joan Smith
Joan Smith: Antommarchi
Collage, pencil and acrylic paint on card
11" x 11.5" (28 x 29.5cm)
£375
© 2024 Joan Smith
Joan Smith: Brain Stem
Watercolour, gouache and pencil on paper
11" x 10" (28 x 25cm)
£375
© 2024 Joan Smith
Joan Smith: Exquisite Corps 5: Bones
Collage, watercolour and pastel on paper
8" x 6" (20 x 15cm)
£175
© 2024 Joan Smith
Joan Smith: Plexus
Watercolour, gouache and pencil on paper
10" x 10" (25 x 25cm)
£375
© 2024 Joan Smith
Joan Smith: Valve
Watercolour, gouache and pencil on paper
11" x 10" (28 x 25cm)
£375
© 2024 Joan Smith
Joan Smith: Air Show
Oil paint on copper mounted on wood panel
12" x 10" (30 x 25cm)
£475
© 2024 Joan Smith
Joan Smith: System
Collage and acrylic paint on card
11" x 11.5" (28 x 29.5cm)
£375
© 2024 Joan Smith
Joan Smith: Tangle
Collage including screenprint, stitch, watercolour and gouache
30" x 21.5" (76 x 55cm)
£525
© 2024 Joan Smith
Joan Smith: Anatomy Lesson 1
Pastel on paper
44" x 30" (112 x 76cm)
£695
© 2024 Joan Smith
Joan Smith: Anatomy Lesson 2
Pastel on paper
44" x 30" (112 x 76cm)
£695
© 2024 Joan Smith
Joan Smith: Charms and Masks
Oil paint on wood panel
24" x 18" (61 x 46cm)
£750
© 2024 Joan Smith
Joan Smith: Beach Collection
Pastel, collage and pencil on paper
44" x 30" (112 x 76cm)
£650
© 2024 Joan Smith
If you wish to purchase artworks, please contact our artist
directly for availability and prices: JSPortobello@outlook.com

Alternatively, artworks can also be ordered through
Concrete Cube Gallery: sales@concretecube.co.uk
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