Suffolk artist Les Bicknell appointed first Sizewell C Artist in Residence

Sizewell C has appointed an artist in residence at its Suffolk construction site – the first appointment of a unique three-year programme of creative residencies, in partnership with First Light Festival CIC.

Suffolk-based artist Les Bicknell, currently a Senior Lecturer at Norwich University of the Arts and a teaching fellow at King’s College, London, was selected for the twelve-month residency after a highly competitive selection process, which was open to artists who live or work in the East of England.

His work has been exhibited widely and is held in many national and international collections including The Rijksmuseum, The V&A Museum, M.O.M.A. New York, Yale Centre for British Art, The Tate Gallery.

As well as creating original artwork, the residency will look to engage the Sizewell C workforce and local community, sharing creative processes and fostering discussions around the project, the local environment, and the community.

Les Bicknell, new Sizewell C Artist in Residence, said: “I’m truly excited to begin as the first artist in residence at Sizewell C. I’ve been waiting for an opportunity like this since I moved to Suffolk in 1990, when I would go to watch the building of Sizewell B. I remember reflecting at this huge undertaking, which at its core was about utilising something so small and yet so fundamental to our existence.

“I’ll be responding, artistically, to both the construction and ultimately the human side of this project. I live locally so it’s a great opportunity to connect, reflect and find inspiration with both the people who work here and the people who live in this part of Suffolk.”

Les’s work covers a range of activity from large-scale public art projects to intimate personal commissions and community engagement projects. He positions much of his art as a collaboration, ‘a question rather than an answer’, and it frequently involves repositioning and rethinking contexts to challenge preconceptions.

Julia Pyke, Joint Managing Director at Sizewell C, said: “We’re delighted to welcome Les to Sizewell C and we can’t wait to see how he explores and connects our project and our team with the communities here in East Suffolk.

“An artist in residence programme is not what you might expect at a nuclear power station, but we want to do infrastructure differently at Sizewell C – and this region has such a strong artistic tradition, it makes for a perfect opportunity to develop a conversation through art.”

The Sizewell Creative Residences programme invites creative practitioners from across the East of England to engage with the Sizewell C project. The aim of the programme is to explore this largely under-documented part of the region’s heritage and history, through the many people who have been part of Sizewell – looking back to the roots of nuclear power in the area from the 1950s and forwards to the 2030s, to listen to and capture the many voices involved.

Genevieve Christie, Chief Executive First Light Festival CIC, said: “As an artist, maker and communicator, Les Bicknell makes work that creates a unique space for the viewer and participant. Over the coming year, we’re looking forward to his creative response and discourse with Sizewell C, its workforce and the local community, of which he is a part.”

These new creative residency programme, launched with First Light Festival CIC, is the latest in a series of creative initiatives delivered by Sizewell C’s Sizewell Creative programme.

Sizewell Creative aims to provide free, accessible, and sustainable arts events and initiatives for the community and local schools. Earlier this year, the programme staged its first stage production: two sell-out performances of Benjamin Britten’s ‘Noye’s Fludde’ at Thorington Theatre near Southwold, which brought together local communities, schools, and the Sizewell C team, alongside top talent from the world of the arts.

Rosalind Parker, Creative Director of Sizewell Creative, said: “This appointment is exactly what Sizewell Creative is all about – bringing the best artistic talent together with the Sizewell C team and local communities, to raise aspirations, to develop creative opportunities, and bring arts to all. And there’s much more to come, too – so look out for many more opportunities for artists, creatives, local schools, and local communities to come together for creative collaboration in 2025.”