Professor Sue Williams Demonstrates the Value of Artist-Educators

29 June 2026

Professor Sue Williams, Programme Manager of Fine Art: Studio, Site & Context at the University of Wales Trinity Saint David’s (UWTSD) Swansea College of Art, is enjoying one of the busiest periods of her distinguished career, with involvement in six major exhibitions and publications this summer, alongside her role as a selector for the prestigious Swansea Open 2026.

A smiling lady wearing craft gloves wearing a scarf.

Her extensive professional activity highlights the importance of universities having staff who are actively engaged in contemporary art practice, bringing real-world experience, professional networks, and current industry knowledge directly into the learning environment.

One of Wales’ leading contemporary female artists, Professor Williams has lived and worked in Wales for more than twenty years. Born in Cornwall, she has built an international reputation through an exhibition history spanning five continents, with both solo and group exhibitions across the globe.

Rooted in autoethnography, her practice combines drawing and text to explore the complexities of human relationships within contemporary culture. Her work often reveals a striking vulnerability, prompting reflection on sexuality, intimacy, and emotional experience, while offering an unflinching examination of human frailty.

Her contribution to contemporary art has been recognised through numerous accolades, including the Gold Medal for Fine Art at the National Eisteddfod and the Rootstein Hopkins Foundation Award for Painting in 2000. In 2006, she was shortlisted for the internationally renowned Artes Mundi Prize.

This summer, Professor Williams’ work can be seen across a diverse range of exhibitions and projects, demonstrating the breadth and relevance of her practice.

Among them is The Female Gaze, an exhibition in Vienna that brings together contemporary artists exploring female perspectives and representation.

Professor Williams is also exhibiting in OH BONDAGE! UP YOURS! at TEN Gallery, Cardiff. Taking its title from the iconic X-Ray Spex punk anthem, the exhibition brings together female artists whose work celebrates women while confronting contemporary misogyny and anti-women rhetoric. Through a range of media, the exhibition explores feminism, identity, resistance and representation, themes that resonate strongly with Williams’ own practice.

She is also contributing to The Future Present is Here, an ambitious publication conceived by North Wales artist-curator Nick Davies. The project gathers 52 messages to the future from individuals working across the arts, creating a unique and thought-provoking time capsule of contemporary creative thinking.

Professor Williams is also exhibiting in Agor Llyfr // Open a Book, presented by Short&Forward in Capel Bethel, Cwmrheidol, near Aberystwyth. The exhibition transforms the historic chapel into a temporary library showcasing artists’ books and book-related artworks from Wales and beyond, many created specifically for the project.

Further showcasing her commitment to Welsh cultural life, Professor Williams is participating in exhibitions connected to both the National Eisteddfod and Craft Festival Wales in Cardigan, celebrating creativity across disciplines and bringing contemporary art to new audiences.

Alongside her own creative practice, Professor Williams has been selected as one of the judges for the Swansea Open 2026, one of the region’s most significant open exhibitions. The exhibition provides an important platform for artists from across Wales and beyond, offering opportunities for emerging and established practitioners to showcase their work.

For students at Swansea College of Art, having lecturers and programme leaders who remain active practitioners offers invaluable benefits. Students gain insight into the realities of sustaining a professional creative career, developing exhibitions, responding to commissions, working with curators, and engaging with contemporary debates within the arts sector.

Professor Williams said: “Maintaining an active practice is fundamental to my involvement with our students. It allows me to bring current experiences, challenges, and opportunities directly into teaching, helping students understand not only materials, concepts and process, but how artists navigate the professional world. The relationship between practice and teaching is mutually enriching, and students benefit from being part of those ongoing conversations.”

Caroline Thraves, Academic Director Art and Media said: “By continuing to exhibit internationally while leading one of Wales’ most respected Fine Art programmes, Professor Williams exemplifies the role of the artist-educator. Her achievements reinforce Swansea College of Art’s commitment to ensuring students learn from practitioners who are actively shaping contemporary culture, providing an educational experience that is informed, relevant and connected to the wider creative industries.”