Avril Richford Riddick
(she/her)
Artist Statement
My practice has evolved through a combination of Healthcare, Auto-Ethnography, Feminism and Ecofeminist topics. With my past career as a nurse, I have found that my art always has a link to health and wellbeing.
Presently I am concerned with contemporary politics and a woman’s right to choose how she lives her life. The right to independent thought, education and most importantly – choice. A complete autonomy over her own life and body, and a parent or guardian’s duty to respect and protect her as a child until such times as she is able to make a fully informed and educated choice for herself about religious ceremonies or cultural surgeries etc.
I am greatly influenced by Margaret Atwood’s dystopian novels ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ and the ‘MaddAddam’ trilogy. I take these ‘Speculative Fictional’ scenarios and compare them to our contemporary world. Using my art for Pro-choice and Protest. The Ecofeminist themes in the trilogy cover not only the above mentioned but the use of biological weapons, war and the devastating destruction to the environment.
I am using menstruation products, contraception and female examination devices to reclaim a woman’s right to choose her own healthcare needs. Exploring themes of control. The control of women but more specifically the relationship between women’s control of their own bodies and compare the historical with the contemporary ways in which the patriarchy are denying women’s rights, globally. I am re-claiming these as symbols of the right to choose in women’s health. Analysing patriarchal control, consent and abuses of power.
At present I am using a range of mixed media, found materials, ceramics, photography, wood and metal. Sculpture being my main practice.
My work continues to evolve with my conceptual topics.
Creative Platform Exhibition 2026
I explain everything in this 12 minute video, so I will say no more here….
Complicit
Title : Complicit
Medium : Ceramics x 5, plastics and a beach found traffic cone
Dimensions : H75 x W73 x D60 cms.
Date : April 2026
Inspired by my MineWatcher’s Post Exhibition. The Naval mine represents Scotland’s long campaign for Nuclear Disarmament and protests the damage to marine life.
The Land mines comment on the use of UK airbases by the USA in the middle east atrocities.
Nuclear Winter
Title : Nuclear Winter
Medium : Painting on Canvas, acrylics, varnish
Dimensions : H91 x W122 x D5
Date : Oct 2025
My interpretation of Margaret Atwood’s dystopian trilogy ‘MaddAddam’ and the aftermath of biological warfare and destruction of our climate.
Pollution
Title : Pollution
Medium : Hung Beach found material, polystyrene, resin
Dimensions : H40 x W29 x D3.5 cms
Date : March 2026
This waste product was found near my MineWatcher’s Post Exhibition in the sand of The Saltings Beach on the River Clyde, beneath the Erskine Bridge. I sealed it in resin for safety in handling. Highlighting the polluted waters around the British shoreline, environmental and climate concerns, micro plastics and forever chemicals being a real threat to all creatures great and small on our planet.
29 Nights
Title : 29 Nights
Media : Installation incl. Tarpaulin, acrylic ink, polystyrene, ceramic, rope
Dimensions : H237 x W200 x D10 cms.
Date : April 2026
My Speculum is used in memory of the many victims of The Glasgow Lock Hospital. 29 Nights being the average time ‘patients’ survived before dying, being relocated to the Magdalane Institutions or back onto the streets. Facilitated by The Glasgow System.
Pro-choice Staff
Title : Pro-choice (IUD) Staff
Media : Metal sculpture (adapted old bird-feeder)
Dimensions : H160 x W85 x D4 cms.
Date : Jan 2026
Photographed with ‘Maternity’ by George Wyllie at Rottenrow Gardens, Glasgow.
41 Rottenrow being the address of The Glasgow Lock Hospital
I am a huge fan of Wyllie and thoroughly recommend a visit to The Wyllieum.
‘Maternity’ was the inspiration for the attachment on my IUD Brooch – see Nobody’s Girl
A Shower of Flag Shaggin’ Pricks!
Title : A shower of flag shaggin’ pricks!
Media : Sculpture incl. Wood, canvas, metal and plastic stool, ceramics, cocktail flags, acrylic paint
Dimensions : H100 x W75 x D65 cms.
Date : Nov 2025
Using Shewee’s to represent the patriarchal ‘Commanders’ in ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ and in contemporary times (whoever the cap fits!)
Snookered
Title : Snookered
Media : Sculpture incl. Wood, baize, ceramics, pram, glass wax (apple) and plastic netting.
Dimensions : H112 x W100 x D54 cms.
Date : April 2026
Using ‘Mooncup’s’ and inspired by Margaret Atwood’s ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ (“Blessed be the fruit”) A dire warning of how freedoms and rights can be taken away so easily and those of our children’s children.
Nobody’s Girl
Title : Nobody’s Girl
Media : Metal IUD sculpture, plastic poncho, acrylic paint, pewter IUD pin, traffic light, cable tie
Dimensions : H170 x W120 x D43 cms.
Date : April 2026
Casting my own ‘Mirena Coil’ as a symbol of choice was the catalyst to an evolving practice this year. After reading the memoir, this sculpture was made to commemorate a very brave author and to remind politicians of their Duty of Care.
We Are Watching!
Title : We are watching!
Medium : Ceramics, incl. dad’s Binoculars
Dimensions : H125 x W50 x D50 cms. (CCTV H10 x W8 x D10 cms)
Date : April 2026
MineWatcher’s Post ceramic inspired by my Creative Platform Exhibition 2026, 12min video on my Youtube channel. Ai Weiwei inspired CCTV (‘CCTV’ is spray-painted onto the front of the Minewatcher’s Post under the Erskine Bridge, but not by me!)
GSA Degree Show 2026
29th May – 7th June, 2026 (4th Floor Mezzanine)
