Career
Ideas
My current work explores the thousands of tiny details that we encounter every day, from the labels in clothes, bus timetables, shopping lists, teaspoons and lockless keys, to the weeds in my neglected garden. Kurt Schwitters, Robert Rauschenburg, Alice Kettle and Jean Littlejohn all provide elements of influence, as well as weathered surfaces, boxes of old photos and tins of old nick-nacks found at car boot sales.
Development of Work
I completed a degree in Fine Art Painting in Manchester in 1990, where my work involved large scale assemblages which combined objects, paint and textural media; I was interested in creating a balance and a tension between these elements.
Since then I have continued to be interested in linking seperate and often unrelated elements, moving them around as if working out a jigsaw puzzle, until I feel they 'fit' or belong.
I started to explore textile media after a trip to Finland where I was able to work with weaving, felt and screen printing. Trips to India and Thailand inspired me to use bold and even discordant colours, together. The marks created by the sewing machine added a new drawing and joining tool to my toolbox.
Teaching
I have previously taught in a secondary school and then a sixth form college in Croydon, and now work part-time in a sixth form college in Brighton, teaching art, textiles, life-drawing and digital art
Recent Exhibitions
The Gloobaah Open House, Brighton, May and December 2010 – 2019
Lunamoon Open House, Brighton, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019
Group 46 Open House, Brighton 2010
MADE Contemporary Craft Fair, Brighton, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2018 and 2019
Nuffield Hospital Open House, May 2011
MAKE Christmas Exhibition, Bovey-Tracey, Devon 2013-14
Solo exhibition, Ropetackle Arts Centre, Shoreham 2014
Saffron and Sycamore Gallery October 2014
Stitched Up Textile exhibition, Green Tree Gallery, Borde Hill Gardens, Sussex 2015
The Claremont Hotel Spring Show and Open House, December 2014 - April 2015
Chiddingly Festival, September 2018
Newhaven Open Call, August 2019
Workshops and Talks
Workshop: Mini-makers fair, the Corn Exchange, Brighton, November 2012
Workshop: Mini-makers fair, the Corn Exchange, Brighton, November 2014
Talk: Worthing Embroiderers' Guild, Feb 2013
Talk:Fabric Friends Talk, Durrington, August 2013
Print 