Suzanne Bethell is a visual artist working across painting, print and assemblage making, often integrating these processes.
Her practice is rooted in giving psychological and emotional states inspired by a timeline of interests – memory, music, place – a visible shape.
Process driven, led initially by the mood shifting power of colour and the luscious materiality of paint, the surface becomes a space to play. Working across several canvasses simultaneously, she makes a mark, obliterates another, splashes a colour using rags, fingers, oil bar, brush… The inspiration for a new body of work often arises from reworking earlier paintings. This is not to perfect the previous image, but rather to coax into existence, a form hovering below textured layers, as impetus for the new. At times the paintings are shouty and brash, at others, they seek harmony in colour and form.
Curious about the impact of scale on the viewer, her abstract works range from tiny pieces to immersive, six metre paintings.
Bio
Since her first solo exhibition in Manchester, (1995) Suzanne Bethell has exhibited widely in the UK. Her solo exhibition, Lucky Dip, launched at HOME, Manchester (2022) and was followed by solo exhibitions: Playground (2023) and Playground 11 (2024) in Manchester’s Northern Quarter; Sensing Colour, Penwith Gallery, St Ives, Cornwall (2025); with Balance, at SeeSaw, Manchester (2026).
She was shortlisted for the Flourish national printmaking award (2020), was a finalist at HOME (2021) and selected for Castlefield Gallery’s bOlder Contemporary Development programme (2021) . A print of her painting Moment of Balance was available at the Whitworth Art gallery (2024/5). San Carlo restaurants is a collector: London, Manchester & Leeds.
Selected group exhibitions include the Wrexham Painting Prize (2026) the Royal Scottish Academy, the Royal West England Academy, the Royal Cambrian Academy; Saul Hay gallery, Manchester; Porthminster Gallery, St Ives; Warrington Contemporary, Air Gallery, Altrincham and Hepworth Gallery Print fair.
Suzanne has made art since childhood. She took a sabbatical from her lecturing role in Further Education in 2000, completing a Foundation in Art & Design with distinction. She continues to develop her practice through courses with established, contemporary artists and recently completed PG1,2 & 3 and a Masterclass with Contemporary Art Academy (CAA). She has had a full-time studio practice since 2012 and currently works from her light filled studio in Goyt Mill, Marple, overlooking the Manchester skyline.
She is a qualified Breathworks Mindfulness trainer which informs her practice.
Galleries, Exhibitions, Awards & Qualifications
Awards
2021
Finalist Manchester HOME open exhibition
Gallery, Manchester
2020
Finalist Flourish national printmaking award.
Solo Exhibitions
2026 with Balance SeeSawArtspace Manchester
2025 Sensing Colour, Penwith Gallery, St Ives
2024 Playground II, Black Redstart Gallery (formerly gallery at 45 Hilton Street), Manchester
2023 Play Ground, Black Redstart Gallery (formerly gallery at 45 Hilton Street) Manchester
2022 Lucky Dip, Granada Foundation Galleries, HOME, Manchester
2016 Circles Unbound, The Studios Gallery, High Peak
1995 Grandma’s Fruitbowl, Pankhurst Centre Manchester
Selected Exhibitions
2026
Wrexham Painting Prize, Wrexham
Songs of Experience, SeeSawArtspace, Manchester
This Moment, The Parsonage, Manchester
2025
How do I Look, Saan 1, Manchester
2024
Final Show, PG3, Contemporary Art Academy
Warrington Open
Whitworth Art Gallery Shop – artist print
Manchester Art Fair with Hotbed Press
4 week residency at Mura Ma Artspace, Marple
2023
Print North, Saul Hay Gallery, Manchester
Air Digital Showcase
Warrington Contemporary Art Open
2022
Saul Hay Gallery Manchester, Winter Show,
Paper After All Saul Hay Gallery, Paper Gallery, Manchester & Royal Cambrian, Conway
Hepworth Print Fair with Hotbed Press
2021
RWA (Royal West Of England)
Saul Hay Gallery, Manchester, Summer Show
2020
Saul Hay Gallery, In Manchester
Home Open, Manchester (award finalist)
Manchester Art Gallery online shop
2019
Winter Show, Porthminster Gallery, St Ives
Enso, Waterside Arts, Sale (3 artists)
Hepworth Print Fair
2018
Manchester Art Fair, with Hot Bed Press
Royal Scottish Academy
2017 Manchester Art Fair with Hotbed Press
2016 Stockport Contemporary
2013 Stockport Art Gallery—open exhibition
2003 Pyramid Arts Centre, Warrington: ‘Locations’
2003 Birchwood Park, Centrepieces
2001 Warrington Art Gallery: Warrington Visual Artists
1998 Warrington Art Gallery: A Women’s Space
1992 Stockport Art Gallery
Qualifications
2026 CAA Masterclass
2024 PG1, PG2, PG3 Contemporary Art Academy
2019 Complete Printmaker, Hotbed Press
2013 Breathworks Mindfulness trainer
2000 Foundation in Art and Design: distinction, Ed Exel Mid Cheshire College
1984 Certificate in Teaching in FE, Manchester Victoria University
1979 BA Hons English/Education 2.1 University of York
Membership of Professional Organisations
since 2016 HotBed Press, Salford
since 2017 Associate Member, Castlefield Contemporary Art Gallery