About
Octavia Madden is an East Devon based artist. Her work moves between observation and abstraction, translating the textures, colours, and rhythms of her surroundings into a language of marks, patterns, and shapes. She is drawn to the fragile and ephemeral: lichens, transient skies, and ever-changing light across the landscape.
Across painting, drawing, and printmaking, she traces the quiet motions of the natural world - how light shifts, weather passes, and forms change over time. Her practice reflects fragility and resilience, attentiveness and care. She captures moments of beauty that often pass unnoticed and the delicate, interwoven relationships that bind us to the environment we inhabit.
CV
Selected Exhibitions
2025
Roam, Garage Gallery, London (trio)
CAPM Where are we Now?, Thelma Hulbert Gallery, Devon
Devon Open Studios, Devon
Thelma Hulbert Gallery Open, Devon
Pop-up Exhibition, Joshuas, Devon
Hidden Places, National Trust, Loughwood Meeting House, Devon (trio)
Studio Kind Summer Open, Devon
Dulwich Artist Open Studios, London
Oriel Brondanw, North Wales
2024
South West Academy of Fine and Applied Arts Open Exhibition, Devon
Devon Open Studios, Devon
Dulwich Artist Open Studios, London
This is Earthy Stuff, AMP Gallery, London
Between Forests, Garage Gallery, London (trio)
2023
StART Art Fair x New Blood Art exhibition at Saatchi Gallery London
Thelma Hulbert Gallery Open, Devon
Aberystwyth Class of ‘23, Aberystwyth School of Art
Gwesty Cymru Show, Aberystwyth (solo)
Bank Vaults Show, Aberystwyth
2022
Studio Kind South West Printmaking Open, Devon
2020
South West Academy of Fine and Applied Arts Open Exhibition, Devon
Marine House at Beer, Devon
2019
Exeter Cultural Partnership Launch, Devon
Artist/Artisan Kenaway House - Group Exhibition, Devon
2018
Black Swan Arts, Somerset
Thelma Hulbert Gallery Open, Devon
Atkinson Gallery Open, Somerset
Awards and Bursaries
Current
KINections, a funded professional development project for rurally based emerging artists
Arts and Culture East Devon Mentoring Programme
2024
Emerging Artist Bursary, Devon Artist Network
Joanna Radford Prize, Devon Artist Network
2023
Shortlisted for the New Blood Art Emerging Artists Prize
People’s Choice Award, Thelma Hulbert Gallery Open 2023, Devon
2020
People’s Choice Award, South West Academy of Fine and Applied Arts Open Exhibition, Devon
2019
Awarded Faculty of Art Scholarship, Aberystwyth University (2019 - 2023)
2018
Black Swan Young Artist Open Competition Winner, Somerset
John King Young Artist Award Finalist
2017
John King Young Artist Award Finalist
Workshops and Residencies
2025
Walking and Drawing Workshop with Garage Gallery, London
Hafod Artist Residency - North Wales
Projects and Professional Experience
Current:
Royal Albert Memorial Museum Skills Development Freelancer
Kinections - CAMP Funded professional training and skills development programme
2025
Royal Albert Memorial Museum Skills Development Placement
Judging Panel member for CAMP exhibition Flow State at Make South West Gallery
2024 - 2025
Royal Albert Memorial Museum Future Skills Program
Press
2024
New Blood Art Artist with Significant Investment Potential
Devon Open Studios Bursary Winners
https://devonartistnetwork.co.uk/emerging-artists-bursary-awards-2024/
2023
Press release for winning the Peoples Choice Award at the Thelma Hulbert Gallery 2023
2020
Press release for winning the Peoples Choice Award at the South West Academy 2020
Education
2023 - Royal Drawing School, Drawing Intensive Term
2019 - 2023 Aberystwyth University BA 1st Class in Fine Art
2018 - 2019 Exeter School of Art UAL Foundation Diploma with Distinction