CV
Commissions
June 2020 – February 2021
Sound of the Breeze Song of the Waves site sensitive soundscape installation in multi-faith chapel space in critical care hospital in South Wales. Created from raw material gathered in collaboration with volunteer musicians following workshops plus field recordings. Commissioned by Aneurin Bevan University Health Board Trust in co-operation with Tŷ Cerdd. Chosen from open call and completed during pandemic restrictions.
November 2020
Commissioned by Contemporary Art Society Wales to create a 20-minute documentary podcast about Concentric women artists’ group for circulation to all CASW members.
November 2015 – February 2016
A Winter Wildness series of soundscapes for installation and performance, co-working with performance artists Denni Dennis and Clare Parry-Jones, devised in collaboration with a group of 4 - 10 year olds. Soundscapes created using recordings made with the children during workshops. Performance at The Chapel, Abergavenny to celebrate the Winter Solstice. Exhibition of soundscape, costumes, set and video installed at The Chapel during February 2016. Commissioned by The Chapel.
July 2013
In Fire Wild voice/text/sound performance in collaboration with musician Siôn Dafydd Dawson, part of 34 Bristols event linking artists and organisations during a weekend throughout Bristol city centre. Commissioned by Arnolfini Gallery, Bristol, UK.
November 2007 - January 2008
A Fable from Loners' Island prose piece commissioned by Mermaid and Monster contemporary art agency to accompany their Loners' Island exhibition at g39 Art Gallery, Cardiff.
Residencies
November 2019
R&D residency week in Shift multi-disciplinary research and development arts space in the cavernous basement of the Capitol Centre, Cardiff, extending skills in multi-channel site-responsive audio installation. An open day was held to mark the end of the residency for the public to engage with the resulting 8-channel work which was edited in situ and made use of the unique acoustics of the space.
July 2018 - May 2019
Born For It eight-channel site-sensitive audio installation created as the culmination of residency at the Museum of Bath at Work, Bath, UK. Using material from the Museum's oral archives and exhibits, the work transformed the main gallery into an immersive listening space. For two weeks disembodied voices with abstract sounds offered the listener a relationship with something much more hidden and profound than information giving.
February 2017 - May 2018
re:Source videomusic installation created in conjunction with visual artist Penny Hallas after a period as artists-in-residence following the process of construction of a micro-hydro scheme in South Wales. Project funded by Llangattock Green Valleys cic, the Sustainable Development Fund of Brecon Beacons National Park Authority. LGV cic and the artists also received an investment from A&B Cymru's CultureStep to strengthen and develop their creative partnership. Presented in Studio CRiC, Crickhowell, Powys for nine days.
December 2016
Offered five-day R&D residency in the Dark Studio, Arnolfini Gallery, Bristol. Leona invited performers Siôn Dafydd Dawson (musician), Laura Moy (dancer), Peter Burrows (musician) to join her in experimentation and improvisation to explore light/dark and reveal/conceal.
August - October 2016
selected by Floating Island Gallery for two-month residency in empty spaces of Brunel House, Cardiff, a 15-storey city centre office block. Recordings of the hidden and not-so-hidden sounds of the building resulted in soundscapes, a collaboration with visual artist Penny Hallas, and a live performance, Unquiet, with musician Siôn Dafydd Dawson. An in-situ presentation of the group's work was given at the end of the residency.
Collaborations
October 2020
+Fire+Ice+ audiovisual work using original text and electric guitar sound with found images. Created for Ysbrydnos::Hallowmas live stream event in collaboration with musician Siôn Dafydd Dawson. Streamed on social media in celebration of Hallowe'en/Noson Calan Gaeaf, and subsequently available on the British Music Collection. Curated by Dafydd Roberts and presented by Sound and Music.
May 2016
Ancient Mariner: Not an Opera an experimental drop-in two-hour performance through a poet's hallucinatory mindscapes, co-created by five composers and artists. Leona contributed soundscapes founded on selected spoken words from Coleridge's poem, referencing the oral musicality of its ballad style. Presented in the entrance hall of National Museum Cardiff.
June - July 2015
in audible: The Baroque Cello Project (part II) continuing development of sound-led installation with performances. In collaboration with musician Siôn Dafydd Dawson, and contemporary dancer Laura Moy. Funding for development awarded by Arts Council Wales. Presented in The Chapel, Abergavenny, South Wales.
November 2013 - November 2014
in audible: The Baroque Cello Project development of sound-led installation with performances following the handcrafting of a Baroque cello. In collaboration with musician Siôn Dafydd Dawson, luthier Adam Winskill, and image maker Jeff Chapman. Funding for development awarded by Arts Council England, and development supported by Arnolfini Gallery, Bristol, and Arcadecardiff, Cardiff, UK. Presented in Arcadecardiff, Queen's Arcade, Cardiff.
June 2011 - March 2013
Travel Writing co-created online tracking project. Twenty-eight books by Rhondda writer Ron Berry were placed by volunteers at sites across Britain, along with the invitation to pick them up, read, then re-place elsewhere or keep. Finders were invited to report the books' whereabouts for tracking on an online map. The project closed after no contacts had been made for six months. Two books found new homes, ten were tracked across the country before disappearing - one for three moves. The longest single journey of a book was from Cardiff to Consett in Co Durham.
April - May 2011
Song at the Years' Transforming response to the work of early twentieth century photographer DC Harries, comprising video with soundscape and sculptures, in collaboration with artist Richard Higlett, shown in The Gallery, Coleg Sir Gâr, Carmarthen, West Wales.
March 2011
Flare! celebration of 100th International Women's Day. A network of public and private events set up by women for women all linked by taking place on 5 March between 12 noon and 12.30 pm, connecting women in countries across Europe and Australia, built by one-to-one contact rather than mass electronic mailings. Devised by Leona and facilitated in collaboration with Jules Heavens.
November 2010 - January 2011
Phantasien video and sound installation in collaboration with visual artist Richard Higlett, shown in TestBed, Oriel Davies, Newtown, Powys.
June - July 2007
Unbound filmed first pages from fictitious books in a variety of genres examining the relationship of literature and cinema, a collaboration with visual artist Richard Higlett,. Screened before film showings at Chapter Arts Centre, Cardiff.
Conferences
March 2020
in(ex)teriors two-channel soundscape created for The Shining Pyramid symposium around the themes of mysticism and alchemy. A sonic imagining of Arthur Machen's semi-autobiographical novel The Hill of Dreams, using text from the book and field recordings made around his Gwent childhood home. Due to have been held at National Library of Wales, Aberystwyth the symposium was cancelled due to the Covid 19 pandemic. A limited edition tape cassette of submitted works was released in October 2020 as alternative outcome. Curated by Dafydd Roberts and supported by Sound and Music.
March 2019
fragmanin two-channel audio essay created for and presented at Intervention! Intoxication?, the fourth biennial Performance Philosophy Research Festival & Conference, Amsterdam, Netherlands. Drawing on relationships between spoken, written and written-to-be-read-aloud language this experimental work explores how listeningwriting collides with live and mediated performance. Leona was part of a panel discussing the audio essay form during the four-day event that brought together artists, researchers, theatre professionals, students, activists and anyone interested in rethinking artistic intervention in its contemporary context. Funding to enable participation granted by Amsterdam University.
April 2016
Borders On soundscape created from unmanipulated field recordings made on the Orkney island of Shapinsay, presented as part of sonic art exhibition at Peter Scott Gallery, Lancaster University, England in association with Women in Sound Women on Sound forum held at the university.
September - December 2013
Otto's Notebook, p 37 audio digital literature work made for Chercher le Texte electronic literature conference and festival in Paris, France, September 2013. In collaboration with Robert Kalman, Siegen University, Germany. The work was part of the Virtual Gallery which was accessible on the internet until December 2013, and conference papers and works have been stored in the electronic literature archive at University of Bergen, Norway. Funding to enable participation granted by Wales Arts International.
May 2012
Iced texts block and imminence displayed, text and movement piece Clouds performed with Movement Artist Nina Wara Villanueva Rance, and walking game Crow's Feet developed, all contributions to PW12 performance writing weekend at Arnolfini Gallery, Bristol.
Installations & Performances
October 2014
The Hills are Alive fleeting 'radio' broadcast from a temporary mountain picnic site, part of GMP's project Free Mountain for Cardiff Contemporary 2014 visual art festival. With Aderyn String Quartet.
June 2013
birdsong soundscape (a development of FREE, see below), installed in Pontardawe Arts Centre, South Wales, to welcome audience to live broadcast from 2013 Glyndebourne Festival.
May - June 2013
autotelica audio installation and Room to Read community reading aloud event, part of In Other Words exhibition exploring the future of writing, curated by Rowan Lear for Fringe Arts Bath 2013.
March - May 2013
idderwirds projected image with text in Shaetlan presented for three months in Shetland Museum & Archives, Lerwick, Shetland Islands, UK.
March 2013
Wolf and fragment text pieces with musician Siôn Dafydd Dawson, and text collaboration with poet Susan Richardson, performed at an environmental book launch event in Cardiff.
February 2013
FREE site specific audio installation re-contextualised for One Billion Rising, a global day of action calling for the end of violence against women and girls, sited throughout Pontardawe Arts Centre, South Wales, as part of an evening charity event.
November 2012
FREE site specific audio installation re-contextualised for Butetown History and Arts Centre, Cardiff, as part of Women's Arts Association Annual Exhibition.
October 2012
FREE site specific audio installation, and iced texts block and imminence, displayed in, and Room to Read community reading aloud event organised for Made in Roath arts festival, Cardiff.
September 2012
...UMm final show for MA Performance Writing, an exploration of Voice using text, sound, movement, image, and the spaces of Performance Centre, University College Falmouth, UK. Awarded Distinction.
November 2011
sotto voce soundscape response to the painting series My Mother's Sewing Box by Jacqueline Alkema, installed with the paintings in Arcade Artspace, Cardiff.
March 2011
Performer in The Vagina Monologues, Pontardawe Arts Centre, to raise money for anti-violence charities.
May 2010
Initiator of and participant in Room to Read community reading aloud event in public space outside Central Library, Cardiff, where an open invitation invited people to create an inverted mirror image of the library. The event continued regularly for three years, and occasionally since then.
Group Shows
March 2020
unununtitleddd two-channel soundscape exploring transitions and liminal spaces placed on the threshold of the Concentric group exhibition to mark International Women's Day. Also a collaboration with movement artist Marega Palser who responded to the soundscape in situ and filmmaker Steven George Jones who filmed Marega's performance. Part of Concentric exhibition for International Women’s Day following a three-week group residency at tactileBosch Lounge, Cardiff, curated by Jacqueline Alkema.
March 2019
Sounds of Somethings Going Under burnt books, music manuscripts and broken glass assemblage. A study in present silence and past sound, the work considers the potential silences arising from the precarious state of the arts. Also a performative action response to Temmah's durational performance on the theme of survival of sexual violence, co-created with performance artist Adeola Dewis, for exhibition opening. Part of Concentric exhibition marking International Women's Day, presented at West Wharf Gallery, Cardiff, and curated by Jacqueline Alkema.
August 2018
Your Attention Please and You Have to Laugh site-responsive sound interventions as part of Concentric women's artists group, presented at Tramshed, Cardiff, and curated by Jacqueline Alkema.
February 2017
two interactive performances using text, sound, gesture. In collaboration with performance artist Adeola Dewis as part of Concentric women artists’ group celebrating International Women's Day. Curated by Jacqueline Alkema and presented at Cwtsh Gallery, Newport, South Wales.
March 2016
Th'luria and Two Thousand Nine Hundred and Seven Feet site-specific sound installations created for Concentric exhibition celebrating International Women's Day. Curated by Jacqueline Alkema, and presented at Jacob's Gallery, Cardiff, South Wales.
March 2015
Over Your Head, David Lynch in conversation and Dark Lantern performance writing works presented as part of Concentric exhibition celebrating International Women's Day. Curated by Jacqueline Alkema, and presented at Cardiff M.A.D.E. gallery, Cardiff.
May - June 2014
Member of Stanza multi-disciplinary group formed to produce collective ephemeral work in situ over a weekend in response to Still Points: Moving World exhibition and a Victorian magic lantern. Also showed Dark Lantern, a work that invited interaction from observers and explored ideas around the censorship inherent in the re-configuring of works of literature thus rendering the original text unreadable. Exhibition curated by Fay Stevens for Fringe Arts Bath 2014.
October - November 2012
on edge soundwork created for The Witching Hour sonic art project at Goat Major Projects, Cardiff, curated by Richard Higlett.
October 2011
cont...ing soundscape, part of exhibition with multi-media art collaborative ArTrA for Made in Roath arts festival, Cardiff.
Others
November 2020
re:Source soundscape chosen for Radiophrenia radio station dedicated to experimental sound art broadcasting from the Centre for Contemporary Arts, Glasgow. A half-hour long shortened version of the soundscape created for residency above.
May 2019
Th'luria soundscape chosen for Radiophrenia radio station dedicated to experimental sound art broadcasting from the Centre for Contemporary Arts, Glasgow. An half-hour long impressionistic composition, featuring the voices of seven women artists talking about their work. A re-edited version of sound installation above.
September 2018 - September 2019
Recipient of a professional development bursary from a-n to enable a year of mentoring by Bill Campbell, founder of Islington Mill creative space, Salford.
January 2018
Borders On soundscape created from recordings made on the Orkney island of Shapinsay selected to be played and discussed at Findings #6 at the Kapitaldruck bookstore in Leipzig, Germany, a series of talks covering a wide range of sound recordings and compositions including or based on field recordings, hosted by German sound recordists and podcasters Patrick Franke and Chris Weinheimer.
September 2015
Paris Masses soundscape, created from field recordings made in Paris, France. Presented as part of A Quiet Place sound installation at End of the Road Festival, Dorset, England. Curated by Jez riley French.
May - June 2015
on edge soundscape played in The ONCA Gallery, Brighton, as one of a presentation of soundworks linked to the symposium Sound and the Urban Environment organised by the University of Brighton, England. Curated by Conall Gleeson and Jonathan Milo Taylor.
April 2015
cellobirds soundscape created for the opening of The Chapel Art Gallery, Abergavenny, South Wales. Dawn chorus recordings and cello sounds woven together to complement the energy of potential and renewal of the refurbished building. In collaboration with musician Jimmy Ottley.
November 2011
Short sound pieces and re-mix autotelica, part of Audio Corpse collaborative sound game project published on cd with Patricide 4: The Sound of Surrealism journal, ed Neil Coombs.
re:Source soundscape chosen for Radiophrenia radio station dedicated to experimental sound art broadcasting from the Centre for Contemporary Arts, Glasgow. A half-hour long shortened version of the soundscape created for residency above.
May 2019
Th'luria soundscape chosen for Radiophrenia radio station dedicated to experimental sound art broadcasting from the Centre for Contemporary Arts, Glasgow. An half-hour long impressionistic composition, featuring the voices of seven women artists talking about their work. A re-edited version of sound installation above.
September 2018 - September 2019
Recipient of a professional development bursary from a-n to enable a year of mentoring by Bill Campbell, founder of Islington Mill creative space, Salford.
January 2018
Borders On soundscape created from recordings made on the Orkney island of Shapinsay selected to be played and discussed at Findings #6 at the Kapitaldruck bookstore in Leipzig, Germany, a series of talks covering a wide range of sound recordings and compositions including or based on field recordings, hosted by German sound recordists and podcasters Patrick Franke and Chris Weinheimer.
September 2015
Paris Masses soundscape, created from field recordings made in Paris, France. Presented as part of A Quiet Place sound installation at End of the Road Festival, Dorset, England. Curated by Jez riley French.
May - June 2015
on edge soundscape played in The ONCA Gallery, Brighton, as one of a presentation of soundworks linked to the symposium Sound and the Urban Environment organised by the University of Brighton, England. Curated by Conall Gleeson and Jonathan Milo Taylor.
April 2015
cellobirds soundscape created for the opening of The Chapel Art Gallery, Abergavenny, South Wales. Dawn chorus recordings and cello sounds woven together to complement the energy of potential and renewal of the refurbished building. In collaboration with musician Jimmy Ottley.
November 2011
Short sound pieces and re-mix autotelica, part of Audio Corpse collaborative sound game project published on cd with Patricide 4: The Sound of Surrealism journal, ed Neil Coombs.
Writings
September - October 2011
Frère Jacques text piece commissioned by artist Richard Higlett for his exhibition Welcome to Your World in g39 at The Dairy, Cardiff.
May - June 2011
Teach the Skeleton to Dance text piece commissioned by artists Antony Mottershead and Melissa Hinkin as part of their project Where Do We Go To Be Healed? in Fringe Arts Bath 2011.
February 2011
In to Bat humorous short play performed by CADS drama society, Cowbridge, South Wales.
March 2010
Producer of, and performer in, hour-long word and music slot in celebration of International Women's Day afternoon in Pontardawe Arts Centre, South Wales.
January 2010
Reader/performer of Wolf and On the Offensive text pieces at music event in Cardiff. In collaboration with musician Siôn Dafydd Dawson.
September 2009
Syzygy multi-media theatre play using text, dance, projection and digital technology.
Comments by readers at Soho Theatre, London: 'an exciting and ambitious piece', 'unique and imaginative voice'. Comment by National Theatre Wales: 'a really exciting project'.
June 2009
Producer and reader of selection of own prose work, part of hour-long lunchtime events programme in The Riverfront Theatre, Newport, Gwent. In conjunction with novelist Jo Verity.
March 2009
Reader/performer of prose piece Hickory Dickory Dare as part of International Women's Day celebrations in Pontardawe Arts Centre, South Wales.
September 2007
You Mothers experimental prose piece published in international literary magazine Tears in the Fence (No 46), ed David Caddy.
March 2007
Reader/performer of Armchair Expert monologue in Swansea dialect at WomenCentreStage event, Dylan Thomas Theatre, Swansea.
February 2006
Invited participant in Sparks Radio Scheme, held by BBC in London. Three-minute radio play Scrambled professionally rehearsed and recorded (to listen use playbar at end of this page). Invitation offered as result of unsolicited full-length radio drama As Far As Words Are Heard submitted to BBC Writers' Room, London, and subsequently pitched for Radio 4.
Comments on As Far As Words Are Heard by readers at BBC Writersroom: 'an impressive piece of radio writing'; 'the writer's use of language is particularly strong'; 'entertaining, well-observed and humorous'; 'vivid, lyrical, engaging'.
June 2005 - January 2006
Rose Pink Road autobiographical digital story broadcast on BBC 2W as part of Streets of Cardiff series. Also published on BBC website, and shown in Cardiff Centenary Exhibition, Old Library, Cardiff.
December 2003
Rudolph! full-length Christmas cartoon drama for radio, recorded by and broadcast twice on gtfm Open Access radio station serving Rhondda Cynon Taf. Repeated Christmases 2004 and 2005.
Comment by reader at BBC Wales: 'characters came off the page strongly, with real 'life' and charm... a distinctive tone.' Comment by professional playwright: 'writes with great imagination...at times almost magical'.
December 2003
A Night Before Christmas published in Cambrensis - Short Story: Wales magazine, ed Arthur Smith.
July 2003
Bacon Butty monologue in Swansea dialect published in Cambrensis - Short Story: Wales magazine, ed Arthur Smith.
March 2003
Small World autobiographical prose piece published in Changing Times anthology, ed Deirdre Beddoe, pub Honno.
Scrambled three-minute radio play see Writings February 2006 above