Artworks

It`s hard to pin point what has been most influential in my work, so many things have contributed; inspiring tutors, places, materials, exhibitions like, ‘sensations’, artists, countryside; all of it blurs together. I can`t remember a time when I didn`t make, I always loved to use my hands and make. I remember being as young as seven and not being able to let go when drawing and painting, I could never finish anything, it felt too distant, but making was much more instinctive and playful. Making has always been about the materials and exploring them. When I had the confidence to turn away from painting at university and embrace ‘making,’ I started to construct miniature paper environments. I think I was being more true to myself and that was probably a turning point for my practice.

During my MA these environments became room sized installations and I started to experiment with different fabrics and textile techniques. I was always encouraged to keep sketch books by artists and inspiring tutors, which helped to allow me to play and experiment with materials. It somehow felt safe in a sketch book! After my MA at the RCA, I started to make jewellery, because I couldn`t afford a studio I focused on developing jewellery. I always have a sketch book to hand and it`s still about playing, experimenting and using materials in different ways.

I realised both my artwork and jewellery had a strong link through my love of craft. I received a grant from the Arts Council to develop and integrate these two disciplines together. This resulted in ‘The Talking Tower’ exhibition at Turton Tower. Since this exhibition, both practices have continued to influence and inform the other. This has also resulted in me becoming even more interested in developing work that responds to a certain environment or building.

In the last few years laser cutting has become part of my practice, so use laser cutting to create detailed miniature environments or pictures made from walnut, mount board, fabric etc and room sized laser cut environments.

Artworks blog

Installation in progress….

March 27, 2020

It`s starting to take shape now! It has taken a while to work out how best to work on it, but finally I hung it from my studio ceiling and it started to get so much easier to make progress. The window it is going to be hung in front of is massive, so I still have a lot to do! I want there to be elements that look like stained glass too.

It looks like the exhibition planned for June is going to be pushed back to August thanks to a certain virus! I am hoping this extra time will give me the opportunity to push my ideas further!

Some more window installation in progress….

February 3, 2020

Still not too much to see!

My studio is so messy, I have to take it out and photograph it in the dinning room to try and get some space around it…..This octagon is 100 cm in diameter.

Close up of the triangle I am working on at the moment then when I am happy with that one I can just repeat it seven times!

The beginnings of a window installation…..

January 21, 2020

I`ve started making the work that will be installed in the large window at St Georges Gallery, as part of Project; Happiness. There isn`t much to see at the moment, but I want to keep documenting it as I go….

It`s made from laser cut mount board; this part is 100 cm in diameter.

Artwaves Festival 2019 Bridlington Spa

August 23, 2019

I had the opportunity to install my work at the beautiful Bridlington Spa building for the Artwaves festival in June.

The team there were amazing! It took 5 (some inside the dome!) to get the installation in the correct position.

The piece is made from layered laser cut mount board and tissue paper….

Artwaves commission…

March 2, 2019

I took the very long train journey to Bridlington today, (which was absolute bliss i might add)! There`s nothing like some mindless pinteresting, window gazing and THINKING! to while away three hours!

I`d never been to Bridlington or Brid as the locals call it….so I was really excited to visit the beautiful Bridlington Spa building, where my installation would be installed as part of the Artwaves 2019 festival. I had a really inspiring session with Don- thanks so much and to all the Artists; it really helped to bring about more clarity.

I can not tell you how excited I was when the AMAZING technical team told me it was possible to hang my installation above the beautiful dome! I expected them to tell me why it wasn`t possible but instead- a casual,”yeh”- like it was nothing!!

Here are some pictures of inspiration from the building and of course the dome…..I`ll be back to install the piece in June in time for the festival.