Artist Ashley Holmes

Hello and welcome to Ashley who is currently working on a project in unit R7c. We caught up with him to find out more about him and his work.

Check out Ashley’s website here or find him on instagram here.

Read the full interview below.

Who are you?

I am Ashley Holmes, I’m an artist and DJ working across sound installation, radio broadcasts, and do lots of work with groups and communities. All based around creative approaches thinking about art work and identity.

How long have you been an artist?

I studied on the fine art course at Sheffield Hallam and graduated in 2013 and since then I have been working freelance and making my own work, alongside doing some projects for organisations and galleries as well. Around coming up to 10 years now.

Where do you work?

I work all over really. I’ve done lots in Sheffield. At the moment I’m working on a project that is in Leeds. I’ve also shown work in London, Liverpool, Manchester, America, Japan, South Africa. Quite varied and I’ve got to travel quite a bit.

Have you got a favourite project?

Probably a recent (pre-covid) project in 2019 which was at the old courtroom at Leeds Townhall. That now gets used for court scenes in TV shows and film sets and stuff. But there was a project as part of Index Festival that was happening in Leeds where I collaborated with a good friend. We made some banners and artwork and installed a sound system in this court room and had a one night performance. It was all based around the architecture of the space. That’s probably my favourite as it was fairly local and quite ambitious. It came together well and I got to work with a good friend too.

Ashley has given permission to share some images of his project in Leeds. Thank you!

This is the full photo credit:

‘Double 6 by Ashley Holmes and R.I.P. Germain. Audio visual performance at former Courtroom at Leeds Town Hall commissioned by Poor Image Projects for Index Festival. Image by Jules Lister, 2019’

Favourite medium to work in or with?

I like working in varied materials. Quite often when I am working towards an exhibition it is a combination of objects and sculptural work, light installations, sound, videos. Very multimedia.

What is your background?

I grew up in Luton, down south, where I was born. I was there until moving to Sheffield for university. I then stayed and not left! I stayed for lots of reasons. Through the Art School there is a real close knit art community in lots of areas of Sheffield and its really supportive network. I have a little bit of a family here, so when opportunities came up after graduating, I could stay here for a bit longer and that’s kind of continued.

Current project

At the minute I’m working on a body of new work which is an installation and a new commission, as part of Yorkshire Sculpture International which is part of an ongoing organisation/gallery/series of events and exhibitions that focus on emerging artists in the Yorkshire region as well as some who are based further afield. So, I am developing new installation work as part of their summer programme that will open at Leeds art gallery in late July / early August. It consists of sculptural elements, sound and light installation elements. It uses a point of reference of an earthquake that happened in 1692. There are some images I have found of underwater excavations of this completely submerged city. So developing some interesting sound and visuals that make reference to that archaeological site.

Check out Yorkshire Sculpture International website.

Why Sheaf Bank?

I live in the local area so that was a really important for me. The size and space – its something I’ve not really had for a while so that was quite exciting. I have a few friends who are current tenants in the building so I was aware of the buildings. So a combination of all those things!

What’s in your future?

I guess still to be doing the things I’m still doing at the moment. Working on some of my own projects as well as working with other people – collaborating on exhibitions. Also working with young people’s group, community groups – just trying to find a way of creatively exploring things people are interested in through art. Hopefully to be able to keep doing that in a way that is sustainable.

When you are not doing art what do you enjoy?

Quite a lot of stuff I do is music related. Me and my girlfriend are avid music fans. We listen and collect a lot of music. Collecting and spending far too much money on records. Then playing them, DJing, playing them on the radio. Quite a lot of stuff away from art is music related.

We can’t wait to see the finished work and follow Ashley’s career!