Artist statement
Combining the mass produced and the unique is, for me, humorous and ironical and full of suggestion and contradiction.
I am interested in the process of reproduction (printmaking, laser cutting, high tech and lo-tech) and also by the theme of reproduction (with reference to the ethical debate surrounding biotechnology, genetics, sex and consumerism). My work is also informed by the relationship between image and paper engineering.
Printed images and multiples enable a process of vulgarisation, undermine the obsession with originality, so that content becomes the primary concern. The repetition of the same imagery echoes our obsession with labels and brands as assurances of quality and also, paradoxically, echoes our fears provoked by images of cloning and other genetic interventions.
I am especially interested in the idea of the imperfect edition. Traditionally a printmaker is to be congratulated on his or her skill in producing a perfect edition. I have always found this to be a very mechanical approach; after the thrill of pulling the first few prints the process is predictable, a routine. To subvert the idea of an edition is exciting and a good metaphor for the paradoxical relationship between group identity and individuality. In the natural world we are familiar with classification along the lines of type yet on reflection every single leaf on a beech tree, as well as being true to type, is distinctly different.
I often take my starting point from commercial packaging nets that I customise in terms of structure and scale. Individual structures can then become units in a giant construction set, with the potential for endless configurations or systematic modifications and reworkings according to context.
My current series of laser cut paper and acrylic vessels explore the theme of survival.
I have produced these works during my residency in the laser cutting studios at Plymouth College of Art and Design.
The initial impetus for these works was a commission from Dartington Arts to work with veteran U.S. site specific choreographer Stephan Koplowitz and his company Taskforce for LIQUID LANDSCAPES, a series of water related dance performances in Plymouth in June 2009. I was commissioned to produce a site specific installation of over 300 multi coloured paper vessels that the dancers responded to at the Mayflower Steps. The first designs focused on a simple net shape and were all hand cut.
The first prototype boat shape was based on a commercial packaging net, but I have repeatedly customised this and loaded it with imagery to produce a range of more complex laser cut vessels. The boat can be seen as a life raft piled high with remnants of lost lands, a salvage vessel or Noah’s Arc. The devil is in the detail however; the imagery reveals that, in our rush to discover pastures new or to escape the exhausted and derelict, we bring with us unwanted passengers, be they stowaways in the form of non indigenous species, viruses, and voracious technologies, or simply our own inadequacies.
Trees become intertwined with storm clouds, fumes from factory chimneys intermix with streams of water, figures are engulfed by the waves.
Current and forthcoming events
- January 2013 - January 2015: Artist in Residence, National Museum of the Royal Navy, Portsmouth (more info)
- May - September 2013: Hand-made Future, Blank Media Collective at Contact Theatre, Manchester (more info)
- July - September 2013: Growing: Celebrate our Past, Exploring our Future , National Centre for Craft and Design, Sleaford (more info)
- September - November 2013: intoLACE, Thelma Hulbert Gallery, Honiton (more info)
- September 2013 - January 2014: BURNT OUT, 20 – 21 Visual Arts Centre, Scunthorpe (more info)
Public realm
- 2012 Exeter Phoenix Digital Art 3D print Commission 2012, Exeter Phoenix and Exeter University, Exeter (more info)
Qualifications and training
- 1995 MA Fine Art Printmaking, Camberwell College of Arts
- 1995 Illustration, Royal College of Art
- 1986 BA (Hons) Fine Art and French, Exeter University and Exeter College of Art & Design, Exeter
- 1985 Ecole Nationale des Beaux-Arts de Dijon
Solo exhibitions
- 2013 BURNT OUT, Devon Guild of Craftsmen, Bovey Tracey (more info)
- 2008 A Strange Harvest, Installation and 3D print works, Edinburgh Printmakers (Galleries 2 and 3), Edinburgh (more info)
- 2008 Set and costume Designs for The Winter's Tale, Dartington Hall production 2007, Coleton Fishacre, Kingswear (more info)
- 2007 The Animals Went in Two by Two, 20-21 Visual Arts Centre, Scunthorpe (more info)
- 2006 The Animals went in Two by Two, Fold Gallery, Kirkby Stephen, Cumbria (more info)
- 2002 I don't want to go to school. Installation and residency, Phoenix Arts Centre, Exeter
- 1997 The Same but Different. A show of 3D printed constructions, London Print Workshop, London
Group exhibitions
- 2012 National Sculpture Prize 2012 Finalist, Broomhill Art and Sculpture Foundation, Barnstaple (more info)
- 2012 Feeling the Pressure, Rhyl Library, Museum & Arts Centre, Rhyl (more info)
- 2011 RCA SECRET 2011, Royal College of Art, London (more info)
- 2011 About Time, The National Centre for Craft & Design, Sleaford (more info)
- 2011 EVOLVER Prize 2011, Thelma Hulbert Gallery, Honiton (more info)
- 2011 LOVELACE International Lace Awards, Finalist, Powerhouse Museum, Sydney (more info)
- 2011 'Paper', Craft House Concept, Edinburgh (more info)
- 2011 10 X 10, 20 -21 Visual Arts Centre, Scunthorpe (more info)
- 2011 Up Close, Devon Guild of Craftsmen, Bovey Tracey (more info)
- 2011 New Territories, The Devon Guild of Craftsmen, Bovey Tracey (more info)
- 2011 Illustrious, The Point, Eastleigh (more info)
- 2010 Present Makers 2010, Thelma Hulbert Gallery, Honiton (more info)
- 2010 RCA SECRET, Royal College of Art, London (more info)
- 2010 TACO 2010 Torre Abbey Contemporary Open, Torre Abbey, Torquay (more info)
- 2009 Multiples Cabinet, MONSTER TRUCK Gallery, Dublin (more info)
- 2009 Gallery Artists, EDGAR MODERN, Bath (more info)
- 2009 PLACE IDENTITY MEMORY, Stranraer Museum, Stranraer (more info)
- 2009 CLOSURE, artworks-MK, Milton Keynes (more info)
- 2009 TACO - Torre Abbey Contemporary Open, Torre Abbey Historic House, Torquay
- 2009 Place, Identity, Memory, Gracefield Arts Centre, Dumfries (more info)
- 2008 Cheltenham Illustration Awards 2008, Pittville Studios, University of Gloucester, Cheltenham (more info)
- 2008 Poole Open, The Study Gallery, Poole (more info)
- 2008 Blank Canvas, Torre Abbey, Torquay (more info)
- 2007 'As if one wasn't enough.', 20-21 Visual Arts Centre, Scunthorpe (more info)
- 2006 Pinstripes and Pistons, 20 -21 Visual Arts Centre, Scunthorpe
- 2006 The Art Farm Project, Rocombe farm, Devon
- 2005 snowcase#5 an installation of artists' multiples curated by Steve Messam, Fold Gallery, Cumbria
- 2005 Pulp Fantasy. An exhibition of paper art, 20-21 Visual Arts centre, Scunthorpe
- 2005 Boxing Clever. International portfolio of paper engineering, Royal West of England Academy, Bristol
- 2005 IMPACT 4 International Printmaking Conference, Muzeum Narodowe w Pozaniu, Pozan, Poland
- 2002 FUSE. An exhibition of art inspired by biotechnology, ICA, The Mall, London
- 1999 National Print Exhibition, Mall Galleries, London
Curated projects
- 2012 ALLOTMENT curated by TROVE, mac Birmingham, Birmingham (more info)
- 2012 Curators' Choice, isendyouthis, online (more info)
- 2010 Axis Choice - curators' selection, Axis, online
Live/Performance
- 2009 JOY COLLECTIVE, Centre for Contemporary Art and the Natural World, Haldon Forest Park, Exeter
Residencies
- 2009 AA2A residency laser cutting, Plymouth College of Art and Design, Plymouth
- 2007 The Winter's Tale, The Private Garden, Dartington Hall, Totnes, Devon, Totnes (more info)
Public commissions
- 2012 NEOREPLICANTS, Exeter Phoenix, Exeter
- 2012 THE JOY OF MAKING, commission for installation of 50 laser cut paper vessels, Wolverhampton Art Gallery, Wolverhampton (more info)
- 2011 NEW, FOUND TREASURES Commission for a series of laser cut paper vessels for the collection, National Museum of the Royal Navy, Portsmouth (more info)
- 2009 LIQUID LANDSCAPES: Collaboration with U.S. choreographer Stephan Koplowitz, Dartington Arts commission for 300 paper vessels, site specific performance at Mayflower Steps, Plymouth
- 2007 Design and Construction of a series of film trophies for Two Short Nights film festival awards, Phoenix Media Centre, Exeter Phoenix
Projects
- 2005 FIVE MAGAZINE curated by Gavin Turk, Published by Portfolio Five, Exeter
Competitions, prizes and awards
- 2012 Grant for the Arts award for research and development of new work, National Lottery through Arts Council England, UK
- 2010 The Oppenheim-John Downes Memorial Trust Award, Funding for laser cutting, Plymouth College of Art
- 2010 Exeter Arts Council Grant for installation for The Joy Collective tour, Exeter, CCANW
- 2007 Prize Winner Cheltenham Illustration Awards 2007, Pittville Studios, University of Gloucester, Cheltenham (more info)
- 2007 Costume and set design for The Winter's Tale funded by Awards for All, The Private Garden,, Dartington Hall, Totnes, Devon. (more info)
- 2006 Arts Council Grant, Art Farm Project, Devon (more info)
- 2003 FUSE bursary from Compassion in World Farming and Littoral Arts to produce work in response to the ethics of biotechnology
- 2002 Exeter Arts Council grant to finance residency and installation at the Phoenix Gallery ‘I don’t want to go to school.’
Educational experience - secondary
- 2004 Activities group leader/schools coordinator, Art Farm Project, Rocombe, Devon
- 2000 Head of Art, Stoodley Knowle School
- 1998 Part- time teacher of Art, Chigwell School, Essex
- 1995 Head of Art, Davenant Foundation School, Loughton, Essex
- 1995 Adult Art tutor/visiting artist, Chigwell School, Essex (until 1998)
- 1990 Part-time teacher of Art and Design, A level coordinator, Davenant Foundation School, Loughton, Essex (until 1997)
Site specific
- 2011 EMBARK: Ferry Art, King Harry Ferry, Truro (more info)
- 2010 Meleager's Garland. Site specific installation, Sir Joseph Bank's Conservatory, Lincoln (more info)
- 2007 Le Jour le Plus Bon, La caserne des 26000 , 17 rue du 26eme Dragons, Dijon (more info)
Other
- 2012 Elle Decoration Hot List, Elle Decoration April 2012, Publication (more info)
- 2010 Elected associate member, Devon Guild of Craftsmen, Bovey Tracey, Devon
- 2007 Touring exhibition of designs, protoypes and costumes for The Winters Tale,, The Devonshire Collection of Costume, Bogan House, Totnes (more info)
Web links - gallery/work/projects
Web links - article/press
