About
Nicola Stead is a socially engaged artist and facilitator based in Glasgow, Scotland. Engaging with local communities within Scotland, people and their stories are at the heart of her work. Through a process built around meaningful connection and participation her work aims to create opportunities for previously untold stories to be shared authentically, illuminating the collective human experience, and exploring a sense of place.
Nicola won the BJP Portrait of Britain Award in 2021 with her winning portrait displayed across the UK as part of a nationwide public exhibition. Nicola's work has also been exhibited in the Royal Scottish Academy, Streetlevel Photoworks, Visual Arts Scotland and the Glasgow Women's Library, as well as being published nationally in The Guardian and Source Magazine.
Selected Awards, Artist Residencies, Exhibitions, Publications
BJP Portrait of Britain Award winner 2021
Exhibited across the UK, January 2022 with BJP and JCDecaux
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Featured in the Royal Scottish Geographical Society magazine, The Geographer, The Power of Communities edition, 2024
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Featured in Activism Through Art Exhibitions, Edinburgh City Chambers, Clydebank Library, 2024
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Artist - Activism Through Art Project, The Young Women's Movement, 2024
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Participatory Artist in Residence, EVOLVE Project, RIG Arts/Culture Collective, Nov 2021 – Nov 2022
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Featured in Street Level Open exhibition, 2022
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Featured in BJP Portrait of Britain book, 2022
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Portrait commission, Dining Across the Divide feature, The Guardian Weekend magazine, 2021
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Artist - Third Age Plus Pioneers Project, Autumn Voices, Oct 2021 – April 2022
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Cumbernauld Through Our Eyes Exhibition, Cumbernauld Theatre, 2021
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Cumbernauld Through Our Eyes Zine Publication, 2021
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Artist in Residence - Cumbernauld Theatre Trust Ltd, May ’21 – Oct’21
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Portrait commission, Freebirthing feature, The Guardian Weekend magazine, 2020
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Selected for Futureproof 2020 online exhibition - Street Level Photoworks, 2020
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Featured in Document Scotland Blog, 2020. http://www.documentscotland.com/glasgow-women-photography-nicola-stead/
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Shortlisted for BJP Portrait of Britain, featured in Portrait of Britain book, 2020
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Selected for the Redeye Graduate Mentoring Scheme, 2020
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Featured in Shutter Hub Yearbook - Online exhibition & printed publication, 2020
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Featured in Photograd Online Gallery Exhibition, 2020
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Shortlisted Artist -Visual Arts Scotland Graduate Showcase, 2020
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Featured in Source Graduate Photography Online, 2020
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Featured in COGC Online Degree Show, 2020
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Shutter Hub – Ways of Seeing Exhibition, Glasgow, 2020
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Shutter Hub Membership Bursary Award recipient, 2020
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Shutter Hub – Everyday Delight Exhibition, Online, 2020