Visiting Professor Charlie Hooker

Charlie Hooker is a multi-media artist and is Visiting Professor at the University of the Highlands and Islands where he is part of the university's Senior Professoriate.  He is known for his interactive public sculptures and gallery installations involving light, sound and movement, as well as site-specific performances and audio installations, all of which have featured in venues across the UK and internationally.  He has recently concentrated on the production of environmentally and climate-based two-dimensional works which combine a variety of printmaking and photographic processes using natural chemicals, water and sunlight.

Charlie's collaborative work provides links between local communities and scientists, focussing on meteorology, climate change and astronomy.  He uses a wide variety of materials and his work often generates kinetic movement through natural phenomena such as wind, water, sunshine and cosmic rays.  He has worked collaboratively with physicists, engineers, architects and town councils, as well as meteorologists based at the University of Reading and The Bjerknes Centre for Climate Research, University of Bergen.

Charlie has taught and run educational workshops at all levels throughout the UK - working with primary and secondary school children, FE Foundation students, undergrad, postgrad and PhD candidates.  He has also worked on a variety of validation and development panels and participated extensively as an external examiner.  Whilst at the University of Brighton, he was course leader for two successful BA courses before becoming course leader for MA Fine Art and research leader for Fine Art staff.  In this role, he chaired the School's focus group to establish and lead the School's Research Monitoring Framework.

When he is not visiting UHI, Professor Hooker works freelance as an artist and musician in Sussex, where he drums for two bands.  UHI own his archive of drawings, maquettes and prints, spanning 30 years, from 1970 to 2000.,