The mood shifting power of colour leads Suzanne Bethell’s painting practice. Her interest centres on its expressive powers and its potential to uplift or sadden; to open the heart. Celebrating the vibrancy of life, her work responds to poignant moments. A series begins in a moment of bodily presence, as an intuitive exploration with mood, materials and curiosity as guides. Conscious thought is initially paused in a bid to discover what will arise.
At times the paintings are bold and garish; at others, they seek harmony in colour and form.
A contemporary painter and printmaker, Bethell moves fluidly between disciplines, integrating these processes. She also creates assemblages from repurposed fragments of paintings.
Enjoying the rich, luscious quality of paint and curious about the impact of scale on the viewer, her abstract works range from tiny pieces to immense paintings up to six metres.
She invites you to immerse yourself in colour and its capacity to excite the eye, engage the heart, and awaken the soul.
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 was shown at the Penwith Gallery, St Ives, Cornwall (2025).
Selected group exhibitions include the Royal Scottish Academy, the Royal West England Academy, the Royal Cambrian Academy, Saul Hay gallery, Manchester, Porthminster Gallery, St Ives, Hepworth Print fair and Manchester Art fair with Hotbed Press. She was shortlisted for the Flourish national printmaking award (2020), was a finalist at HOME (2021). A print of her painting Moment of Balance is available at the Whitworth Art gallery. San Carlo restaurants is a collector.
Suzanne has made art since childhood. She became a full time painter in 2012. Before this she painted alongside a career as a lecturer in Further Education and subsequently team leader in Teacher Education. She is a qualified Breathworks Mindfulness trainer which informs her practice.
Suzanne works from her light filled studio in Goyt Mill Studios, a former cotton mill in Marple, overlooking the Manchester skyline.
Galleries, Exhibitions, Awards & Qualifications
Awards
2021
Finalist Manchester HOME open exhibition
bOlder talent development programme Castlefield Gallery, Manchester
2020
Finalist Flourish national printmaking award.
Solo Exhibitions
2026 May-June 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
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
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