Artist statement
Concepts
Public commissions:
I spend a lot of time researching to gather information on which to base the piece. New materials and processes also present a challenge to work with. My work tends to have a graphic quality with clean lines and a minimalist feel. I like mixing materials whenever I can and often include text in a piece.
Collages:
They are broadly based on the Northumberland coastline. I collect objects whilst on walks and hoard them. I also take notes and photographs while there and incorporate some of this information into the pieces. I like the fact that the objects and materials I use could be hundreds or thousands of years old, they all have layers of history embedded in them and exposed by the erosion of time. With some of the pieces I have actually embedded objects or text inside the collage, these will remain hidden unless the piece is disassembled.
Career Path
Public Art Commissions
I have designed large-scale public art projects including seating, gates, railings, sculpture, signage, sundials, clocks, & bollards. I use a variety of materials - hardwoods, metal, Slate, stone, brick, polymer and glass, often mixing two together, this emphasises and enhances the different qualities of each. I am also interested in experimenting with construction techniques and how they relate to various materials. I like pushing boundaries regarding materials & processes. This has resulted in unique pieces of work that respond well to their settings.
I subcontract out the manufacture of the large scale work, but do still make smaller items myself - clocks, trophies, furniture & mixed media collages
Clients include - Newcastle Council, Gateshead Council, Sunderland Council, Easington Council, Northern Rock Plc, Northern Rock Foundation, Equality North East, DFDS Ferries, Tyne & wear Passenger Transport Authority & Arts Council North East.
Education Practice
I have 18 years experience of running a wide range of workshops and residencies with children from
pre school age up to adults, and children with disabilities. Past workshops / residencies include:-
Clocks, Sundials, Masks, Costumes, Models, Sculpture, Seating, Recycling junk, Banners, Silk painting, Mosaics, Decorated clay bricks, Lanterns, Plaster casting, Decorative Greetings Cards, Tree Dressing, Large scale Carnival puppets.
South Tyneside & Gateshead councils employed me in 2006 as their art consultant on the ‘Building Schools for the Future Project’. This involved working with 10 secondary schools to get their input for designing the new & refurbished schools. Consultation also took place with teachers & stakeholders.
Qualifications and training
- 2009 Teaching Thinking (Creative Partnerships), Arts Council North East, Newcastle
- 2008 PGCE Adult Teaching, Sunderland University, Sunderland
- 2003 730/6 Further & Adult Teaching Certificate, North Tyneside College, Wallsend, Tyne & Wear
- 2001 Computer Applications in Art and Design, Newcastle College, Newcastle
- 1990 BA hons. Combined Studies in Crafts, Crewe & Alsager College, Alsager
Employment
- 2011 Adult Learning Alliance, art & craft classes classes, Various, North Tyneside
- 1983 Studio Manager for a printing firm, Horizon Print, North Shields
- 1982 Costume Maker, Newcastle Playhouse, Newcastle
- 1981 Trainee Graphic Designer, Merchandising Graphics, Wallsend
Group exhibitions
- 2009 Off The Shelf, Saltburn Gallery, Saltburn
- 2008 Open Studios, 36 Lime Street, Newcastle
- 2007 Designed & Made, Designed & Made Gallery, Newcastle
- 2006 Designed & Made, Blackfriars, Newcastle
- 2004 Mixed Media Collages, Dial Gallery, Warkworth. Northumberland
- 2004 Christmas Presents, Shipley Art Gallery, Gateshead, Tyne & Wear
- 2003 25 x 25 exhibition - All work had to be this size, University Gallery, Newcastle Upon Tyne
- 2003 Material Spaces, Tullie House, Carlisle
- 2002 Open Studio, 36 Lime Street, Newcastle
- 2002 Text Messages, Rufford Craft Gallery
- 2002 Clocks, Quay Arts, Isle of Wight
- 2002 Collages, Wharf, Restaurant, Wapping, London
- 2001 La Sagesse, Newcastle
- 2001 Wedding gifts, Beatrice Royal
- 2001 Open Studio, 36 Lime Street, Newcastle
- 2000 Open Studio, 36 Lime Street, Newcastle
- 2000 Christmas Exhibition, Shipley Art Gallery, Gateshead
- 2000 Christmas Exhibition, Beatrice Royal, Hampshire
- 2000 Crannach Gallery, Aberdeenshire
- 2000 Clockers, Beatrice Royal Gallery, Hampshire
- 1996 Living at Belsay, Northumberland
Workshops
- 2012 The Lambton Worm, Barmston Primary, Tyne and Wear
- 2012 Wire sculpture, Tudhoe Colliery Primary School, Co Durham
- 2012 Soap sculpture, Tudhoe Colliery Primary School, Co Durham
- 2012 Sculpture Day, Hartside Primary School, Tyne and Wear
- 2012 Sculpture workshop, Bishop Auckland Primary, Co Durham
- 2012 Banner workshop, Burradon Nursery School, Tyne and Wear
- 2011 Sundial Workshop, Ouseburn Festival, Ouseburn, Newcastle upon Tyne
- 2011 Craft classes, Stanhope Hospital, Wearside
- 2010 Domino Project. The group helped to create a set of personalised dominoes., Alzheimers Society, Sunderland, Tyne & Wear
- 2009 Craft Classes with visually impaired adults., Pearey House, North Shields, Tyne & Wear
- 2008 Tree Dressing, Ouseburn Farm, Newcastle
- 2008 Mosaic Workshop with Adults, Urban 11 project, Hetton Community Centre, South Hetton
- 2008 Designing a panel for a shop window, Urban 11 Project, Streetz Cafe, Houghton Le Spring
- 2008 Banner workshop, Urban 11 project, Robin Todd Centre, Hetton
- 2008 Designing a seat with teenagers, Urban 11 Project, Lisa Dixon Centre, Haswell
- 2008 Designing an outdoor sign for a building, Urban 11 Project, Flatts Youth Centre, Easington Lane
- 2008 Crafts class with older learners, Kirkdale Court, Burradon
- 2007 Tree dressing, Ouseburn Farm, Ouseburn, Newcastle
- 2007 lantern workshop, Youth Club, Leamington
- 2007 Making Sundials, Ouseburn Farm, Newcastle
- 2007 Carnival head dresses & costumes, Thomas Gaughn Centre, Walker
- 2006 tree dressing, Ouseburn farm, Ouseburn, Newcastle
- 2006 Ouseburn Festival, head dresses, Various, Byker
- 2006 mask workshop, Queens Hall, Hexham
- 2006 windsocks, Trewitt Road, Heaton, Newcastle
- 2006 plaster casting, Ouseburn farm, Ouseburn, Newcastle
- 2005 Silk painted banner, Blackhall community centre, Blackhall, Easington
- 2005 Banner making workshops for the Walker & Leamington Riverside Festivals, various venues, Tyne & Wear
Residencies
- 2010 Seat and Bird Boxes, Barley Mow Park, Sunderland, Tyne & Wear
- 2008 Seating project. A group of students designed a seat for the playground, St Johns School, Bishop Auckland
- 2004 'My Best Time'. workshops were run with children from each year group, making clocks or sundials., George Washington Primary School, Washington
- 2004 Making Banners, Bishop Hartland School, Sunderland
- 2001 Residency, East Boldon Primary School, Sunderland
- 2000 Constructing a 3ft long boat with cargo, Monkwearmouth Museum, Sunderland, Tyne & Wear
- 1997 Residency, Chantry Middle School, Northumberland
- 1997 Residency, Thomlinson Middle School, Northumberland
Private commissions
- 2010 Clock, Private Individual, North Shields, Tyne & Wear
- 2008 Aluminium & Teak clock, Private residence, Midlands
- 2008 Side table in Ash & sandblasted glass, Private residence, North Shields
- 2005 Urn for cremated ashes - Made in Oak, Tyne & Wear
- 2004 Commemorative Cross in Oak & Etched Stainless Steel, Private, Tyne & Wear
- 2000 Holy Communion Box - Made in Oak with metal embossed detail
- 1998 Dining room table & six chairs - Made in Ash with copper detailing, Newcastle Upon Tyne
- 1998 Commemorative Bench in English Oak - Inscription carved along back panel, Warkworth Church Yard. Northumberland
- 1996 Christmas Tree, Coutts Bank, London
Public commissions
- 2012 Memorial Seat, Kingston Park Primary School, Kingston Park Primary School
- 2011 Subway To The South, Outdoor, East Howdon, Tyne and Wear
- 2011 Mosaic, Outdoor, St Michaels Church, Byker, Newcastle upon Tyne
- 2009 Ridgeway School Gates, Ridgeway School,, South Shields. Tyne & Wear
- 2008 Wheel of Time, High Street, Birtley
- 2007 Journey, City Stadium, Ouseburn Valley, Newcastle upon Tyne
- 2007 Next Stop Byker, Byker Metro Station, Byker, Tyne & Wear
- 2004 'Echo' - 4m high brushed Stainless steel sculpture with acid etched text, Pedestrian & Cycle Tyne Tunnel, Howdon, Tyne & Wear
- 2004 'The Ones That Got Away' - 1.5m high cast fish heads & tails, sprayed in Flip Flop paint, Pedestrian & cycle Tyne Tunnel, Howdon, Tyne & Wear
- 2004 Clock made in Birch ply & Aluminium, George Washington Primary School, Washington, Tyne & Wear
- 2001 4 Sculptural Signs for a Business Park, Newcastle City Council, Newcastle Upon Tyne
- 2000 Laser cut mild steel gates with curved bars, Stepney Bank Stables, Ouseburn, Tyne & Wear
- 1996 Trellis to surround the Eco Office - Made from recycled clutch plates, Eco Office, Jarrow, Tyne & Wear
Corporate commissions
- 2013 North East England Tourism Awards 2012, Various, Various
- 2012 Side table, John Gerrard Hair Salon, Newcastle Upon Tyne
- 2010 Trophy 2010, Equality North East, Swawell, Tyne & Wear
- 2008 Trophies, Equality North East, Tyne & Wear, Tyne & Wear
- 2007 Trophies, Equality North East, Tyne & Wear
- 2006 Trophies, Equality North East, Tyne & Wear
- 2005 3 trophies - Made in wood, metal & Perspex, 'Equality North East', Tyne & Wear
- 2005 5 clocks in wood, metal & glass, Northern Rock Foundation, Gosforth, Tyne & Wear
- 2003 Board room clock in glass & Aluminium, Northern Rock plc, Gosforth, Tyne & Wear
- 2003 Trophy commissioned by DFDS Ferries for 'Magazine of the Year', Private, Tyne & Wear
- 2000 7 clocks in mixed materials, Arts Council North East offices, Newcastle Upon Tyne
Projects
- 2010 Great British Art Debate. We created a stylised lighthouse sculpture with a series of panels using different mediums., South Shields Museum & Art Gallery, South Shields. Tyne & Wear
- 2009 Sensory Garden project. Working with young offenders & a partially sighted gardening group to produce a seat & birdboxes., Barley Mow Park, Sunderland, Tyne & Wear
- 2008 Urban II Project. Working with 5 comminity groups to produce pieces of public art, a seat, mosaics, banner, sign for community centre & window panel, Various, Easington & Sunderland
- 2006 Sculpture day for anyone to come along and make something out of the wood provided, Saltwell Park, Gateshead
- 2006 Family learning, various, North Tyneside
- 2006 BBC Blast, Newcastle college, Newcastle
- 2006 'Building Schools for the Future'. Working with the coincils involved in the project, I ran workshops with 10 schools to help shape the new build & refurbished school designs., Secondary schools, South Tyneside & Gateshead
- 2004 Ouseburn Festival, Various, Newcastle
- 2004 Calendar project - 3 youth groups created images/sculptures that were included in a printed calendar, various venues, Tyne & Wear
- 2003 Creating plaques for the 'Education Action Zone' - Using images on ceramic tiles from the 18 schools they had provided funding for
Educational experience - early years
- 2012 Banner workshop, Burradon Nursery School, Tyne and Wear
- 2011 Teddy Bear Banners, School, Usworth Colliery Nursery
Educational experience - primary
- 2012 The Lambton Worm, Barmston Primary, Tyne and Wear
- 2012 Wire Sculpture, Tudhoe Colliery Primary School, Co Durham
- 2012 Soap sculpture, Tudhoe Colliery Primary School, Co Durham
- 2012 Sculpture Day, Hartside Primary School, Co Durham
- 2012 Sculpture workshop, Bishop Auckland Primary, Co Durham
- 2010 Living willow structure, 4m high 12m long, Fordley Primary School, Cramlington, Tyne & Wear
- 2009 Recycled Seating, Fordley Primary School, Cramlington, Tyne & Wear
- 2009 Automata devices using cams & pulleys, South Beach School, Blyth, Northumberland
- 2009 Stitched, Caribbean themed banner, Peases West School, Durham, Tyne & Wear
- 2009 Silk Painted Welcome Banner, Ryhope Infants School, Sunderland, Tyne & Wear
- 2009 Recycled Robot, 6ft high, Ryhope Infants School, Sunderland, Tyne & Wear
- 2009 Carnival costumes, Peases West School, Durham, Tyne & Wear
- 2008 Sculpture with withies, Blackfell Primary School, Washington
- 2005 Several 1 day projects with primary schools, based on sculpture, various venues, Durham, Tyne & Wear
- 2005 'Big Oceans' project, making sea monsters, 5 schools in the West End of Newcastle Upon Tyne, Newcastle Upon Tyne
- 2003 Making decorative ceramic bricks, St Peters School, Wallsend, Tyne & Wear
- 2003 Constructing a 3D model of the River Tyne after a boat trip up the river, All Saints School, South Shields, Tyne & Wear
- 2002 Residency - Making pebble mosaics, Malverns Close School, Blyth, Northumberland
Educational experience - secondary
- 2010 Recycled Xmas Trees, John Spence school, North Tyneside
- 2008 Workshop as part of the Birtley sculpture project, Lord Lawson School, Birtley
- 2007 Six sessions to develop sculptures based on the learners personal projects, Mortimer Comprehensive, South Shields
- 2007 Sculpture with withies & collage materials, Stanley School of Technology, Co Durham
- 2006 Two day Education Conference for pupils of King George V & Brinkburn schools, Stadium of light, Sunderland
Educational experience - tertiary
- 2011 Creative Card Making, Churchill Pavillion, North Tyneside
- 2011 Craft classes, Stanhope Hospital, Wearside
- 2007 Sculpture with withies, Ouseburn Farm, Newcastle
- 2007 card making, Longbenton community college, Longbenton, Newcastle
- 2007 Crafts for partially sighted, Pearey House, North Shields, Tyne & Wear
- 2005 Designing & making clocks, Fyndourne College, Sacriston, Durham
- 2005 Woodwork Class, The Barn, North Shields, Tyne & Wear
- 2005 General Crafts Class, Royal Quays Community Centre, North Shields, Tyne & Wear
- 2003 Creativity day with a group of art teachers - making containers, Shipley Art Gallery, Gateshead, Tyne & Wear
- 2002 Silk Painting classes, The Meadows, North Shields, Tyne & Wear
Educational experience - special needs
- 2010 Aunt Sally project. A group of teenage NEATS, made a set of Aunt Sally boards 5-6ft high. They are usually on piers, you put your head through & get your photo taken, South Shields Museum & Art Gallery, South Shields. Tyne & Wear
- 2009 Crafts class with visually impaired older people, Pearey House, North Shields
- 2004 Working with excluded children, to produce designs for ceramic tiles., Tudor Grove, South Shields
- 2001 WOW Festival, making banners & decorating a mini bus, Linskill Community Centre, North Shields, Tyne & Wear
Publications
- 2010 Seat at Barley Mow Park
- 2009 Peases West Carnival parade
- 2008 Clocks, Saturday Times magazine
- 2008 The Journal
- 2008 Journey, City Life
- 2007 Journey is Completed, Journal
- 2005 Echo, Artist Newsletter
- 2005 'What makes a Memorable Journey' a guide to the Nexus Public art on transport programme, Tyne & Wear
- 2004 Sculptures mark our rich heritage, News Guardian
- 2004 Tunnel gets new vision, Herald & Post
- 2004 Fiona Tops & Tails story of River Tyne, Journal
- 2004 Women learn how to DIY, Evening Chronicle
- 2004 Wood you give DIY a chance, Evening Chronicle
- 2003 Art show no strings attached, Journal
- 2003 Designer Banks on River Business, Journal
- 2003 'Textile Perspectives in Mixed Media Sculpture' a book by Jac Scott
- 2003 Fiona's Inspiration, News Guardian
- 2000 Furniture maker gets back to basics, Journal
- 1997 Contemporary design at Belsay, Furniture & Cabinetmaking
