Rosie Spencer | Art, architecture and design editor

From illustrated books on art, architecture and design to magazines and research reports, I can guarantee the highest level of care and attention for any project.

I am a highly experienced copyeditor, subeditor and proofreader with over two decades of experience in the publishing industry. Recent projects include editing major exhibition catalogues for Fondation Cartier pour l'art contemporain in Paris – on the Australian artist Sally Gabori and the Colombian artist Olga de Amaral – as well as an extensive survey on the history of Pakistani art and architecture for the National Museum of Qatar in Doha, and two exhibition catalogues for Kettle's Yard Gallery at the University of Cambridge. 

I have worked on publications for many high-profile names, including Turner Prize-winning artist Lubaina Himid, architect David Chipperfield and artist Ryan Gander. I was project editor for the major contemporary photography survey Vitamin Ph: New Perspectives on Photography, published by Phaidon Press, as well as copyediting the catalogue for the Venice Architecture Biennale, several exhibition catalogues for Richard Nagy Gallery, and book projects for the British Council, the Crafts Council and the National Trust, among many other clients. I have worked in-house as Assistant Editor of The Art Newspaper, Production Editor of Icon magazine and Managing Editor of Contemporary magazine, as well as subediting for a variety of titles including GQ magazine, Apollo magazine, Disegno magazine and Jocks & Nerds magazine. I am currently a regular subeditor for The Art Newspaper, a monthly UK publication on the art world, and The New Era, a magazine on interior design and architecture, produced in Stockholm.

I can provide whatever level of service you require, from copyediting and proofreading to rewriting and substantive editing. I am an eagle-eyed editor and proofreader with a professional attitude and a passion for crafting the written word. I look forward to hearing from you.

Qualifications

• MA in Contemporary Art Theory (Distinction), Goldsmiths College, University of London
  
• Postgraduate Diploma in Arts Management (Distinction), Birkbeck College, University of London
  
• BA in English Literature/History of Art (2.1), University College London
  

Clients

Books, exhibition catalogues, websites and other publications:

• National Museum of Qatar, Doha – I copyedited the publication Manzar: Art and Architecture from Pakistan, 1940s to Today
• Kettle's Yard, University of Cambridge – I copyedited the publications Making New World: Li Yuan-chia & Friends and Megan Rooney: Echoes & Hours
• Fondation Cartier pour l’art contemporain, Paris – I copyedited and proofread the substantial exhibition catalogue on the Aboriginal artist Sally Gabori
• Disegno Works creative agency, London – I copyedited publications for design brand Molteni and the Goldsmiths' Company 
• Arts Cabinet, London – I copyedited and proofread the publication Migration for research platform Arts Cabinet
• The Museum of English Rural Life, University of Reading – I copyedited and proofread the exhibition catalogue The Commons: Re-Enchanting the World
• Andreas Martin-Löf Arkitekter, Stockholm – I copyedited and proofread the Swedish architect Andreas Martin-Löf's illustrated monograph One to One
• My Residence, Stockholm – I copyedited and proofread five illustrated books on Scandivian architecture and interior design produced by Residence magazine in Stockholm
• Hollybush Gardens/Koenig Books – I copyedited and proofread an illustrated monograph on Turner Prize-winning artist Lubaina Himid, titled Workshop Manual
• Eline McGeorge – I copyedited and proofread the Norwegian artist Eline McGeorge's illustrated exhibition catalogue As Spaces Fold, Companions Meet
• Alexander Lervik – I copyedited and proofread the Swedish designer Alexander Lervik's illustrated book Fifteen
• The British Council, London – I copyedited the British Council publication on the Maker Library Network
• The Crafts Council, London ­– I copyedited the exhibition materials for the Crafts Council exhibition States of Play
• Swedese – I copyedited and proofread promotional exhibition materials for the Swedish design brand
• The National Trust – I copyedited a National Trust publication for Apollo magazine
• Venice Architecture Biennale – I copyedited architect David Chipperfield's catalogue, Common Ground, for the 13th Venice Architecture Biennale
• Ryan Gander – I proofread the British artist Ryan Gander's illustrated book Culturefield
• Richard Nagy Gallery, London – I copyedited and proofread illustrated exhibition catalogues on the Silverman Collection, George Grosz and Alfred Kubin. I also proofread the gallery's full website
• Firstsite gallery, Colchester – I proofread the illustrated exhibition catalogue Steven Claydon: Culpable Earth
• Jane Withers Studio, London – I copyedited the publication Really and exhibition text for the Milan Furniture Fair
• John Morgan Studio, London – I proofread the website of design practice John Morgan studio
• Kellenberger-White – I proofread course materials for the Design Interactions MA at the Royal College of Art
• Åbäke – I proofread a series of postcards published by the design collective Åbäke
• The Design Embassy, Sydney – I copyedited various documents for the Australian government on eSafety and Safety by Design
• Trendgruppen PR – I copyedited the Swedish PR firm's website and press releases 

Magazine subediting:

• The New Era https://www.theneweramagazine.com
• The Art Newspaper https://www.theartnewspaper.com
• Disegno https://disegnojournal.com
  
• Apollo https://www.apollo-magazine.com
• Dirty Furniture https://dirtyfurniture.newsstand.co.uk
• GQ https://www.gq-magazine.co.uk
• Icon https://www.iconeye.com
• Onoffice https://www.onofficemagazine.com
• Jocks & Nerds
• A-L Journal
• Blueprint

Research reports: 

• City to Sea, a UK environmental organisation
• The Australian government  

Specialised software

• Adobe InDesign
• Adobe Acrobat
• Adobe Photoshop

Testimonials

• I first worked with Rosie Spencer on one of our exhibition catalogues. Rosie copyedited and proofread the whole book, from the authors’ texts to the exhibition lists and captions, with great precision and punctuality. Her availability and recommendations were very precious throughout the project. It was a pleasure working with her and I strongly recommend her services. Cécile Provost, editor, Fondation Cartier pour l'art contemporain, Paris
• As a writer it is always hard to find an editor who really gets your tone of voice – I’ve worked with Rosie on several projects now and she is a true genius. She will make any copy come to life and make it flow whilst still keeping its original outline. She is effective and very meticulous. Jonna Dagliden Hunt, design journalist, Stockholm
• In the process of writing the entire manuscript for my book One to One I realised I could only do it well if I wrote in Swedish, which is my mother tongue language. After the translation to English I felt a bit unsure if the tonality in the texts was correct and also if the translator really had understood what I meant when I first wrote the text in Swedish. Rosie Spencer was a perfect match for me working on copyediting and proofreading and helping me to find that tone that I think is so important. I can warmly recommend Rosie for texts of any size or full book projects. Andreas Martin-Löf, architect, Stockholm
• Writing about visual art is problematic enough and “International Art English” is routinely criticised as being difficult and alienating. As a visual artist, when it comes to making my sometimes oblique ideas and ricocheting bulletpoints readable, working with Rosie has been a revelation. She makes the words flow. They become a pleasure to read. She also has the ability to alter the level of technical details for different audiences, meaning that each edited text is handled in an efficient and decisive way. Jaykoe, artist, London
• Rosie Spencer edited and proofread my large exhibition catalogue, which included a number of texts written by authors with English as a second language, references to more than 100 images of artworks and captions all set within a quite unusual book design. It was truly impressive how Rosie managed to keep a track of all the materials and every little detail of the content in this book, as well as doing an amazing job editing the language and structure of the catalogue texts. Eline McGeorge, artist, Oslo
• I contacted Rosie through recommendation – and I’m so glad I did! I needed a quick turn around, it was very last minute. Rosie did a brilliant job at editing a chapter for my book. I struggle with words and grammar and felt a little anxious about sending Rosie my work in case she didn’t understand it. Rosie reassured me that it would be fine, she turned around the project quickly and before my deadline and she did a fantastic job at turning my piece into a superb, easy-reading article. Emma Fullwood, Brighton

• Editor
• Proofreader

• Art history
• Non-fiction
• Architecture
• Art & culture
• Design
• Humanities
• Performing arts
• Photography

• Transcription
• Copywriting
• Writing
• Project management