Barry Cottrell

Barry Cottrell was born in 1953 in Bristol, England. He is an artist-engraver, researcher, and writer with a special interest in the evolution of consciousness and the primordial mind. In 2008 his book, The Way Beyond The Shaman – Birthing A New Earth Consciousness, was published by O Books.

Engraving and shamanism are both ancient practices and over the years he has been exploring ways in which they can communicate with us today. His Totem Body project (2008-2011) continued this exploration of the indigenous mind and consciousness through art. In 2011 he had two UK solo exhibitions on the theme of Totem Body, and curated a further group exhibition of 15 artists in the Crypt Gallery under St Pancras Church, London. From 2011 to 2014 he was a PhD research student in the School of Art at Aberystwyth University exploring the Pleistocene origins of mark-making and engraving.