MUIREANN NIC AN BHEATHA




ABOUT

Muireann Nic An Bheatha is an interdisciplinary artist, material researcher, and technician based between Edinburgh and Forres, Scotland. Working across biomaterials, natural dyes, scent, installation, and performance, her practice interrogates our relationship with the materials we use in our everyday lives, and explores sustainable alternatives. In her work, process is as vital as outcome, with tactile, olfactory, and gustatory explorations framing her creative inquiry.

Through hands-on exploration of bioregional waste streams, foraged materials, bio-composites, and bio-polymers, she translates complex material processes into open-source guides, practical workshops, and immersive sensory environments.

She currently works as the Regenerative Materials and Prototyping Technician at The Glasgow School of Art’s Highlands and Islands campus.

Instagram
Contact
CV




Education
Royal Academy of Art, The Hague
Bachelor ArtScience
2017-2021

Rhode Island School of Design
Sculpture (Exchange Semester)
2020

London College of Communication
Foundation Photography
2013-2014


Exhibitions
Glory Mould 2084
Biomaterials prop design for Produced Moon,
St Enoch Centre,
Glasgow (UK)
2026

Dropcity Material Library
Material Sample,
Milan Design Week,
Milan (IT)
2026

Behind the Scenes
Bioplastic Sculpture,
Glasgow School of Art,
Glasgow (UK)
2026

Pigment in Polymer
Bioplastic and natural dyes,
Summerhall Arts Group Show,
Edinburgh (UK)
2025

Layers of Care,
Installation,
Hidden Door Festival,
Edinburgh (UK)
2025

Simple Pleasures
Paintings and Olfactory samples,
Vanity Affair Exhibition,
Edinburgh (UK)
2025

Bioplastic painting
Bioplastic and natural dyes,
Visual Arts Scotland Exhibition,
Dalkeith (UK)
2024

And Sometimes I Just Feel Like Melting
Installation,
EX35 Exhibition,
The Hague (NL)
2023

Kikker 50: De Plasticene
Installation and Performance,
Theatre Kikker,
Utrecht (NL)
2023

(M)eet de Plastics
Installation and Performance,
KABK Graduation Show,
The Hague (NL)
2021

It’s Plastic Bitch!
Installation and Performance,
The Grey Space in the Middle,
The Hague (NL)
2021

Borders
Lecture-Performance,
Centre for Experimental Lectures,
Online
2020

The Plasticene
Installation,
Stedelijk Museum,
Amsterdam (NL)
2019

Patterns of Ebb and Flow
Performance,
Strandlab,
Almere (NL)
2019

Malaria Hysteria
Short Films,
Edinburgh Film Festival,
Edinburgh (UK)
2017

Toilet Talk
Sound Installation,
Paradigm Exhibition of Electronic Arts,
Summerhall,
Edinburgh (UK)
2016

You and Me Being Sad is Trouble
Photography Installation,
London College of Communication,
London (UK)
2014


Workshops Bioplastics Cooking Workshop
Glasgow School of Art Skills Week,
Glasgow (UK)
2025

Lecture-Performance and Bioplastics Cooking Workshop
Lofoforra Collective,
Czech Republic (CZ)
2023

Bioplastics Cooking Workshop
Dis_Seminar, 
Fort de Batterijen (NL)
2022

Bioplastics Cooking Workshop
EcoArts Festival,
Rotterdam (NL)
2019

Bioplastics Cooking Workshop
Stedelijk Museum,
Amsterdam (NL)
2019

Olfactory Workshop
Activism Today Festival,
Groningen (NL)
2019


Awards & ResidenciesVisual Arts and Craft Makers Award
Bursary, VACMA (UK)
2025

ArtScience Bachelor Thesis Award 
Royal Academy of Art, The Hague (NL)
2021

Manifest Summer Residency
Moose Space, The Hague (NL)
2018

Winner of the Youth Hub Filmmaking Competition
Edinburgh Film Festival (UK)
2017

Beyond Limits, Crossing Borders Residency  Artist  Residency
Void Gallery, Derry, (IE)
2016


Research(upcoming) Tactile Archive: Material Exploration at the Margins
ELIA Conference Bienial,
Zwolle (NL)
2026

(upcoming) Colour as Flavour: Natural Dyes, Edible  Bioplastics, and the Dining Experience
Bernat Klein Foundation Sumposium, 
Belfast (IE)
2026


PublicationsHow to Eat Plastic
Education Guide and Material Research,
Supported by VACMA
2025

How to Cook Plastic
Bioplastic Recipe Book
2025

Touching: A  Research Method in Art and Design
Featured Chapter and Interview
2021


Press
Voices: Three Innovators on Using Generative AI for Bio-based Materials Research
Feature & Interview, Materiom
2026

Review: Glory Mold 2084
Exhibition Review, A Young(ish) Perspective 
2026

Starch, Gelatine, Glycerine
Material Research Profile, Future Materials Bank, Jan Van Eyck Academie
2024

Talk to Me: Rachel Valinsky on Three New Lecture-Performances
Performance Review (Borders), Artforum
2020                 


Skills
Material Research
Material Consultancy
Material Archiving
Facilitation
Biomaterial Formulation
Scent Formulation
Waste Valorisation
Lab Equipment
Lab Setup & Design
COSHH & Risk Assessment
Standard Operating Procedures
Woodworking
Lasercutting
Worksheet & Recipe Design
Natural Dyeing
Performance Art
Exhibition Installation
Lecture-Performance
Lab Management
Curriculum Design
Adobe Suite
Multi-Sensory Documentation





Last Updated 14.10.26