Artist statement
Like a child creates fantasy worlds through play, I create fictitious worlds that retain certain truths about our reality. I use maps, which are visual representations of our world; I cut out fragments and reconfigure the pieces as if assembling a jigsaw puzzle. Resultant work is a newly mapped out reality that comments on aspects of our world. During assembly my puzzles follow certain rules in their creation that echo the assembly of our world. I use atom-like building blocks to form a new kinds of existences, each painstakingly mapped out, molecule by molecule.
Often the work is labour-intensive, giving the impression of a kind of natural development, where rocks and land are slowly formed, or reformed. As each piece takes shape it is clear to see one world breaking down as the other emerges.
I see my practice as a series of quasi-scientific investigations, contrasting installation and paper based work. The installation works echo the excitement of discovering a new idea or theory, whereas the paper pieces show the quiet concentration and dedication a scientist needs to create formulas and equations to support their theories.
My most recent work is my Abandoned Diving Board series which looks at objects discarded by society, with the idea that eventually abandoned objects like these will outlive the very society that created them, leaving behind fossil-like traces of our existence.
Qualifications and training
- 2007 Distinction, MA Textile Culture, Norwich University College of the Arts, (formerly Norwich School of Art and Design), Norwich
- 2002 Second Class Honors, Upper Division, Multimedia Textiles, Loughborough University, Loughborough
- 1999 Foundation in Art and Design, Mid Warwickshire College, Leamington Spa
Employment
- 2010 sessional work on MA Textile Culture, NUCA, Norwich
- 2009 Artist in Residence, Wymondham College, Norfolk
- 2009 For employment during 2008 and 2009, please see 'Residency' section, Norfolk
- 2005 Graduate Teaching Assistant on BA Contemporary Textiles and Fine Art Sculpture, Norwich School of Art and Design, Norwich
- 2003 Teaching AVCE Fashion Textiles, Warwickshire College, Leamington Spa
Solo exhibitions
- 2011 Over Your Cities Grass Will Grow, Stew Gallery, Norwich
- 2011 Festival of Architecture Norwich and Norfolk 2011, The Iron House, Norwich
- 2009 Solo Exhibition, Targetfollow at Center Point, London
Group exhibitions
- 2012 submit&exhibit, Art in the Underbelly, Rumsey Wells,, Norwich
- 2012 submit&exhibit, Art in the Underbelly, Rumsey Wells,, Norwich
- 2010 Where Are You Now?, The Gallery, NUCA, Norwich
- 2009 Made to Measure, 'Fusion' in conjunction with the BBC, at The Forum, Norwich
- 2007 Masters Exhibition, NSAD, Norwich, East Anglia
- 2007 The Late Shift - Architecture week, Sainsbury Centre, Norwich (more info)
- 2006 'In Rete' (in the net) mini art textiles, Touring exhibition, Como, Italy
- 2006 MA Show 2006, Norwich School of Art and Design, Norwich
Residencies
- 2011 Residency, Stew Gallery, Norwich
- 2009 Artist in Residence (1year), Wymondham College, Wymondham
- 2008 Reside and Respond (6 weeks), City College Norwich, Norwich, East Anglia
Corporate commissions
- 2011 Thames Map, Corinthia Hotel, London
