Abigail works in the realm of live performance creating both intimate and large scale installations. Abigail's interests lie in working with material objects, craft and actions to create playful site-specific installations and immersive encounters for audiences.  Her work crosses many disciplines (sound and video design, music technology, nature, architecture and performance) blurring the worlds of visual art and theatre. She explores intimacy through instruction-based work, and frequently commits long periods of time to learning new skills - the Hobby Projects method - which she then shares and explores with her audience members/participants. 

Abigail actively celebrates and encourages the artist in everyone, disrupting the delineated roles of spectator and performer in playful ways.

Abigail’s work has presented nationally at The ICA, Battersea Arts Centre, Forest Fringe, The Wellcome Collection, Southbank Centre, The National, Barbican, Warwick Arts Centre, Attenborough Centre for Contemporary Arts, Latitude, Summerhall and been showcased by the British Council. Internationally she has toured Europe, China, Australia and South Korea.

home sweet home by subject to change (Abigail Conway and Lucy Hayhoe) is an experience-led installation that creates a temporary, dynamic and socially engaged community. Since 2006, home sweet home has toured to national and international acclaim, across Japan, Canada, USA, Europe, China and Australia.

Abigail is a part-time Senior Lecturer in Theatre at University Chichester and Goldsmiths and an associate artist of Forest Fringe. Abigail’s research focuses on instruction-led performance and the politics surrounding participatory arts.  Her practise as an artist is centred around a methodology called The Hobby Project.

Abigail learns a skill which in turn becomes creative material for devising a project. By translating the learning characteristics into immersive performances for audiences to experience also, she opens up new experiences for regular live art audiences whilst striving to push unusual performance experiences to new audiences. The Hobby Project approach includes sport, craft, leisure and environmental activities.

“Abigail’s work is of exceptional quality – with a distinctive blend of craft-based or sculptural making, performance and technology.  One of the huge strengths of Abigail’s work is its chameleon like ability to sit in a variety of contexts – from galleries, to architecture festivals, theatres, community celebrations and major arts festivals”.

Laura Mcdermott. Artistic Director of ACCA.

2022 up & coming

2022