Dr Catherine Baker

Associate Professor of Art and Health

Birmingham School of Art

Email:: Catherine.baker@bcu.ac.uk
Phone:: 0121 331 5970

Dr Catherine Baker is an Associate Professor in Art and Health at Birmingham City University (BCU) in the UK. Based at Birmingham School of Art, she is the Faculty Chair for Ethics and Research Integrity and set up and co-led the Material Encounters Research Cluster.

As an artist/researcher her early PhD work involved working with neuroscientists with whom she shared an interest in the neurobiology of the eye and the perceptual encounter. Her interest in this encounter as a phenomenological consideration remains although since 2010 her research has become more focused on the impact of art practice in clinical contexts. As an experienced principal investigator she has led novel, multi-partnered interdisciplinary projects investigating environment and embodiment, and health/well-being in relation to Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis (BackBone study). She is currently PI for an interdisciplinary knowledge exchange project developed with The Royal Botanic Gardens Kew that builds on previous work by both partners. Recognised by leading publications including the BMJ Medical Humanities and The Lancet, and via exhibition and public performance(s) with internationally significant galleries and cultural festivals, the BackBone team will join forces with Kew’s learning team, known for their award-winning outreach and influential environmental education and engagement programmes.

She has recently led a Special Section for the world-leading journal Leonardo with Neuropsychologist Professor Iain Gilchrist (University of Bristol) on the process of interdisciplinary collaboration across the Arts, Sciences and Humanities. Baker has editorial responsibilities across a number of interdisciplinary and drawing related journals and has published a number of articles and chapters at both meeting points and she has exhibited her work in the UK and internationally.

Areas of Expertise

Qualifications

Memberships

Teaching

Research

Postgraduate Supervision

Catherine is interested in supervising doctoral research projects in Drawing and Printmaking and projects at the interface of Art, Health and Wellbeing.
Previous students:
Barsky, R. Symbol of Nation: The Making of The Israeli Museum, Jerusalem (Completion 2019)
AlZaid, S. Representation of Ka’ba as a sacred symbol in Islamic Art; The Sase of Silkscreen Printing, (Completion 2020)
Current students:
Turpie, E. The Drawn Portrait in Contemporary Printmaking, (Completion exp. 2024/5), Director of Studies
Eustance, P. A queer enquiry into embodied encounters of contemporary NHS mental health care through artistic practice. (Completion 2025) Director of Studies
Cowle, K. The importance of photography in investigating the visual processing characteristics of Cerebral Visual Impairment and the photographic image as a tool to communicate a neurodivergent understanding of visual experience to a visually neurotypical audience. M4C funded (Completion exp 2026), Director of Studies.

Doctoral Examining

2024 Dawidek G.M., Slade School of Art, University of London The Body as a Text, Practice-led PhD candidate
2024 James, M, B., Birmingham City University
Living in and through our bodies: Somatic Principles that support the experience of pain and discomfort. 2024,
2023 Wanshu, L., Birmingham City University
Exploring the potential of UV-reactive materials as body adornment through performance art.
2023 Rea, S., Belfast School of Art, University of Ulster
In Vitro: A practice-based research project exploring then impact of biotechnologies on the family photographic portrait using empathy as a creative tool. Practice-led PhD candidate
2022 McConaghy N., Belfast School of Art, University of Ulster
N. Visualising Pain: Negotiating communication through mark-making and poetry
2021 Berry-Frith, J., Birmingham Demystifying Art and Science through the Use of Playful Creative Methodologies: How Life Sciences use of advanced imaging and microscopy can extend art and scientific methods of imagery.

Publications

1. Baker, C. & Morris, N. (2025). Adolescent Scoliosis: Art and nature relationships (working title), The Routledge Handbook of Health and Environmental Humanities, (Eds) Bates, V., Abrams, A. & Gomez, R., Routledge, UK

2. Baker, C., Morris, N., & Tsirikos. A. (2023). Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis: Interdisciplinary Creative Art Practice and Nature Connections, BMJ Medical Humanities, https://doi.org/10.1136/medhum-2023-012796

3. Baker, C. (2023). Distance and Disruption: The organised disorder of the body in illness in Pattern and Chaos: making and meaning, (Eds) Horton, S. & Mitchell, V., Intellect, UK, https://doi.org/10.1386/9781789388718_37

4. Baker, C (2023) BackBone Magazine article, Scoliosis Association UK, Issue 7, Spring 2023 https://sauk.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Spring-23-web.pdf

5. Baker, C. & Gilchrist, I.D. (2021) Science and Art: Understanding the Cross Disciplinary Dialogue, LEONARDO, Vol. 54, No. 3, p. 344, 2021. https://doi.org/10.1162/leon_e_02035

6. Baker, C. (2020) Editorial for Drawing, Research Theory Practice Journal, edition 5.2, Intellect, UK

7. Baker, C. & Foster, K. (2017). Chapter: Inappropriate Shift. Drawing Conversations: Collective and Collaborative Drawing in Contemporary Practice, (Eds) Gorrill, H & Journeaux, J. Cambridge Scholars Publication.

8. Baker, C. 2012. Note Bene, Double blind peer-reviewed conference paper, Drawn Out International Drawing Conference 2012, RMIT, Australia and UAL, London. Online.

9. Baker, C. 2010. Tracing the Physical, peer-reviewed paper, Studies in Material Thinking, Vol 4 International Research Journal, Massey University, NZ https://www.materialthinking.org/volumes/volume-04

10. Baker, C. 2010. Metaphorical Marks, double blind peer-reviewed paper, Drawing Out, International Drawing Conference and Festival, RMIT, Australia, April 2010 ISBN 978-0-646-53254-7

11. Baker, C. 2009. All over the Place: Drawing Place, Drawing Space, published by The Caseroom Press, ISBN 978-1-905821-14-3, LAND2 Research Group.

12. Baker, C. & Gilchrist I.D 2008. Seeing Vision & Perception in a Digital Culture, International Conference Paper and online publication, CHArt, Birbeck & Kings College, London. ISSN 1742 – 3376

13. Baker, C. 2007. SCANPATH, Solo Exhibition catalogue, Published by The Space 4 Gallery, UK ISBN 0 905952 04 9
14. Baker, C. 2005. Jerwood Drawing Prize, Int. Group Exhibition catalogue, ISBN 0-948327-20-1

15. Baker, C. 2005. Mostyn 2005, Int. Group Exhibition catalogue. Published by Oriel Mostyn Gallery, Wales. ISBN 0-906860-58X

16. Baker, C. 2005. fabulous confabulations. Exhibition catalogue, published by Leeds Met Gallery. ISBN 0-9548413-0-1

Solo Exhibitions Publications:

1. 2022 BackBone, Edinburgh Printmakers, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK, https://edinburghprintmakers.co.uk/viewing-room/28-held-catherine-baker/

2. 2016 Under the Skin, Ruskin Gallery, Cambridge, UK

3. 2010 Drawing Connections, Milton Keynes Gallery, UK 2008 Scanpath - Bracknell Gallery, South Hill Park Arts Centre, Berks, UK

4. 2007 Scanpath - Space 4 Gallery, Peterborough Art Gallery & Museum, UK

5. 2005 Saccades & Fixations, The Hat Factory, Luton, UK

6. 2004 fabulous confabulations, Leeds Met Gallery, Leeds, UK

Group Exhibitions Publications:

1. 2022 - Thinking of Place iii: Touring International Printmaking exhibition: 13 countries from 2022 - 2024

2. 2020 Stones & Bows, Hong Kong (as part of Impact 11)

3. 2019 Waiting, Musikkens Hus, Concert Hall, Aalborg, Denmark

4. 2019 Cabin Baggage, Norwich Gallery, (TBC – _Tour postponed due to Covid-19)

5. 2018 Encuentro Impact 10, Santander, Spain

6. 2018 You and I are Discontinuous Beings, International Project Space, Birmingham, UK

7. 2018 NN Contemporary, Northampton, UK

8. 2016 Dark Side of LightNight, Duke Street Collective, Liverpool LightNight Festival

9. 2016 La Cura Festival, Bologna, Italy

10. 2015 Drawing Conversations, Coventry University (collaboration with K. Foster)

11. 2015 Impact 9, China Academy of Arts, Hangzhou, China, CN

12. 2014/5 Eastern Approaches, UH Galleries, St. Albans, UK 13. 2014 Anonyme Zeichner, Pavillon am Milchhof, Berlin, DE 14. 2013/4 Group show, NN Contemporary, Northampton, UK 15. 2013 Impact 8, University of Dundee, Scotland. UK

16. 2012 Galleria Aus18, Milan, Italy, IT

17. 2012 Eastern Approaches, UH Galleries, St. Albans, UK

18. 2010 All over the place: Drawing Place, Drawing Space, Stanley & Audrey Burton Gallery, Leeds, UK

19. 2010 Bristol Neuroscience Festival, University of Bristol, UK 10. 2010 Drawing Out Festival of Drawing, RMIT, Australia

11. 2008 Triptych – papers, the Project space, Norwich, UK

12. 2008 All over the place : Drawing Place, Drawing Space UWE / Land2 research group

13. 2008 Drawing in the title, Norwich Gallery - Curated by Lynda Morris

14. 2006 Drawing in Motion, Bury St Edmunds Gallery, Suffolk, UK

15. 2006/7 Exhibition to accompany launch of Public Art Commission Mid Beds District Council, Chicksands, UK. Opened by HM the Queen and HRH Prince Philip

16. 2005/6 Jerwood Drawing Prize, tour across UK

17. 2005 East 05. Norwich Gallery, UK

18. 2005 Mostyn Open, Oriel Mostyn, Llandudno, Wales, UK.