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Bea Denton is an artist whose practice relies on photography and digital media. Her interests focus largely on the notion of spirituality, religion and faith in a contemporary context. Although her work incorporates aspects of her personal experience, beliefs and observations as a Catholic, a participatory aspect is implicit in all the work, and the outcomes are reliant upon the input of those whose opinions are sought. The testimonies of individuals from within a diverse community are offered voluntarily online, by post and by word of mouth and are transcribed but not altered.

So the work is about storytelling, although truth is not the issue - these are stories simply told which express recognition of something intangible in the way of things. They are told as they were received, and a curious bond is created between the storyteller and the listener.

We live in a society whose newfound religion is self-worship and whose headline news is a celebration of public suffering and testimony. But despite this spiritual poverty it seems that we have a need for hope that is as great as our need to tell stories.

This work is about Faith, Confession, Pilgrimage, The Soul, The Afterlife, Miracles, Hope. It tells a story about hope born of the fragile human condition, and our consequent pursuit of faith, however illusive.

EDUCATION

1980 - 1981 Foundation course in Art and Design - Medway College of Design
1981 – 1984 BA (hons) Graphic Design - North Staffordshire Polytechnic
2000 - 2002 MA Printmaking (Distinction) - Camberwell College of Art (University of the Arts)
2002 - 2003 Postgraduate Certificate Glass in Architecture - Central Saint Martins College of Art (University of the Arts)
2003 - 2004 Postgraduate Certificate in Photography - London College of Communication (University of the Arts)
2005 PGCE PCET - Greenwich University

Via Dolorosa Site-specific installation. Screen prints; MDF mount.	Seeing is Believing Installation. Helio relief/sandblasted layered reeded glass; lightboxes.
Where is Heaven? Installation. Granite, slate, basalt. Printed news sheet. Photographic imagery etched into granite, slate and basalt. Printed news sheet, A5 sheets of Hannemuhle paper attached with silver clips.	Modern-day Miracles Installation. 7 lenticular photographic images, an interactive sound installation using hypersonic speakers, and a book printed in a limited edition of 500.