School of Art, Design and Media (ADM)

I was trained as a graphic designer with a background in magazine design, and joined Portsmouth in 1988.  I maintain my practice as an artist/designer and educator, with a strong record of collaborative work through the design and creation of international internet networks.  The main vehicle for this work is the internet hub the ImageXchange.

My research interests are the computer as a medium for communication and acquisition of knowledge, and the collection and production of Artists’ Books. Combining both of these areas has led to a new research initiative, The Ministry of Books. My own Artists’ Books are included in national and international collections.

Current Research^{[Back to top]}

Expanding the ImageXchange project through international student and staff collaborative projects.

Continuation and expansion of The Ministry of Books collection, online bookmaking tutorials and virtual exhibition site.

Development of my practice through Artists’ Books for exhibition nationally and internationally.

O’Neill, M. & Sambrook, C. (2010). Visual Libraries: Leave Your Mark . This project introduced 100 sketchbooks into the Portsmouth City Libraries, accompanied by the delivery of workshops to five community groups: the vision impaired, prison services, MIND, housebound and the women’s refuge. International collaborators include The British Council Library and Little Flower Convent for the Blind in Chennai India, Forsyth County Public Library, Wake forest University, Winston-Salem, North Carolina. We aim to create a documentary film, a dedicated website and a touring exhibition of sketchbooks from libraries in Portsmouth, India and the US.
http://www.visuallibraries.com
http://www.flickr.com/groups/visuallibraries/

Publications

Journal Articles^{[Back to top]}

O’Neill, M. (2010). Leave Your Mark: the visual libraries project. A collaborative visual pilot project that examines the creative use of sketchbooks in public libraries. Journal of the Public Libraries Group of CILIP, 25(1), 17-19.

O’Neill, M. (2008). The Ministry of Books: creation and use of an online visual database for artists' books. The international journal of the book, 6 (2), 31-50

O’Neill, M. (2005). Type, text and the map. TypoGraphic: the journal of the international society of typographic designers, 63, 52-58.

Batey, J. & O’Neill, M. (1999).The visual language of number, an internet research project bringing together visions of how numbers affect our lives. Outline: CTI Art & Design Magazine, 8, 3-7.

Websites^{[Back to top]}

Batey, J., O’Neill, M. (1997-2010). The ImageXchange.
http://www.envf.port.ac.uk/illustration/IMAGES/index.htm

Batey, J., O’Neill, M. (1997-2010). The Visual Language of Number.
http://www.envf.port.ac.uk/illustration/number.htm

Sambrook, C., O’Neill, M. (2009) Visual Libraries: Leave Your Mark
http://www.flickr.com/groups/visuallibraries/

O’Neill, M. (2007-2010). The Ministry of Books.
http://www.envf.port.ac.uk/illustration/minweb/index.htm
A digital archive of over 150 Artists’ Books, offering a research resource and inspiring creative opportunities through their diverse formats and references to philosophy, language, history, literature and science. This research has built an awareness and important links and networks with other large online databases of artists’ book collections such as the National Art Library, Victoria and Albert Museum, Otis College of Art and Design Artists’ Book Collection, USA and Joan Flasch Artists’ Book Collection at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and the Centre for Fine Print Research at University of West of England. The site is used as a resource by colleagues at De Montfort University and the University of West of England.

O’Neill, M. (2006-2010). Mappassion. http://www.mappassion.com/
Used as an example of best practice for staff, undergraduate and postgraduate students both internally and externally (University of Portsmouth, London College of Communication, University of West of England Research Centre).

Batey, J., O’Neill, M. (2005-2006).  Daily Routine. http://www.envf.port.ac.uk/illustration/IMAGES/routine/index.htm

Batey, J., O’Neill, M. (1999). Children’s Rights. http://www.envf.port.ac.uk/illustration/mexico/index.htm

Exhibition Curation^{[Back to top]}

O’Neill, M. & Sambrook, C. (2008). Visual diaries: a collaborative sketchbook project. Portsmouth: Space.

O’Neill, M. (2008). An exhibition of artists’ books held in The Ministry of Books. Portsmouth: University of Portsmouth Library and Space; Newport IoW: Quay Arts.

O’Neill, M. (2008) Re: open exhibition of 150 experimental artists' books . Portsmouth: Space Gallery.
http://www.envf.port.ac.uk/illustration/minweb/gallery/exhibitions/reex/index.htm

Artists' Books^{[Back to top]}

O’Neill, M. (2010). Five days in Kuala Lumpur, Searching for Mapness, The Map of Shelter. The Centre for Fine Art Print Research, Artist's Book Yearbook: 2010-2011.

O’Neill, M. (2008b). The Map of Shelter. Exhibited within Shelter: unique visions of a subject through artists’ books. Newton, MA: Wedeman Gallery; Silver Spring, MD: Pyramid Art Centre; Providence, RI: Rhode Island School of Design; Beverly, MA: 301 Gallery, Montserrat College of Art; Worcester, MA: Cantor Art Gallery.

O’Neill, M. (2008a). The Map of Repetition. Exhibited in Re: exhibition of experimental artists' books. Northampton: The Gallery, The University of Northampton; Milton Keynes: Artworks Gallery; Hereford: College of Art Gallery; Portsmouth: The Space Gallery.

O’Neill, M. (2007b). Searching for Mapness. Exhibited in Books 07: Searching for the impossible. Australia: Noosa Regional Gallery. Book purchased by Queensland State Library, held in their Artists’ Book collection.

O’Neill, M. (2007a). Micro Macro. Exhibited in Earth Matters Exhibition. Edinburg, TX: University of Texas-Pan American. This work is now exhibited permanently in their International Student Office.