I’m Candice Black, a creative from South Wales, UK. Creating weird art drives my creative practice forward. I create weird art as my experiences of trauma and mental illness have changed my perspective of reality. I experiment with different ideas, tuning into representations of emotion and thought.
As a mixed-race, disabled, Welsh, female: my creative work has been a lifeline through challenging experiences. With the development of my practice, I have worked into themes of embodiment, rebellion, and self expression. Addressing trauma has been a large part of my work. Through this experience I have found the reality of living with a mental health condition to be multi faceted. I’m curious about the spiritual world, folk lore, and the supernatural.
My creative work makes use of symbolism, expresses emotion, and explores difficult subject matter. I aim to continue growing and developing my creative practice.
Experience
Under-Represented Voices Writing Lab, National Film and Television School, 2026
Rhondda Cynon Taf Artist’s Summer Intensive, 2025
‘Emerging: An Artistic Practice Saved My Life,’ Self Published Memoir, 2025
‘Vagary,’ Solo Exhibition, Cynon Valley Museum, 2025
‘Beyond Harp Shaped Hills,’ Published, Creative Writing Anthology, 2025
Short Film Award, Bangkok Movie Awards, 2024
‘Catalogue Of Failures,’ Published, 2024
Culture Change Leadership Programme, 2024
‘Valleys’ Imaginings,’ Published, 2024
Creative Steps Recipient, Arts Council Of Wales, 2024
‘Counterfeit,’ Solo Exhibition, Cynon Valley Museum, 2024
‘Magic Is All Around,’ Published, New Horizons Mental Health, 2023
SANE Creative Award, 2023
Human Nature Connect Residency, Intercultural Roots, 2023.
Selected for the ‘Resilience’ Spring Exhibition at Cardiff MADE 2023
30 Works 30 Days, Artquest, 2023
Selected for the Women and The Valleys Exhibition 2023 and 2022
Selected for the Disability Arts Cymru, ‘Aildanio,’ Art Prize Exhibition 2022-2023
Selected for the ‘Power’ Winter Exhibition at Cynon Valley Museum 2022
Honourable Mention at the Create! Magazine ‘Women’ Open Call, 2020
Education
Open University, Wales — BA (HONS) Open Degree: Art History
January 2014 – June 2019
University Of West England, Bristol — DipHE Fashion & Textiles.
September 2005 – June 2009
Norwich City College, Norwich — BTEC National Diploma Fashion & Textiles
September 2003 – June 2005
Courses
Arts & Health Level 2, Adult Learning RCT, 2024
Self-Shooting: Film Making, National Film and Television School, 2024
Introduction to Virtual Reality & AR Core, Coursera, 2024
Sports Coaching Level 2, Sport RCT, 2023
Peer Support, Cardiff and The Vale Recovery College, 2023
Python Basics, Coursera, 2023
Essential Skills, Adult Learning RCT, 2023
Measuring and Valuing Health, Future Learn, 2021
Fundamentals Of Graphic Design, Calarts, 2016