Artist statement
An exploration of the ideas around a sense of place has been at the core of my practice. This could be a personal mapping of my surroundings, working with a Parish Council to celebrate its specialness or researching the history of a specific space to create appropriate and meaningful pieces of public art.
The use of the book form has developed my connection to and an understanding of audience and heightened my understanding of the idea of communication. These ideas around the book manifest themselves as form as content and manipulation as narrative.
Current relationships with government administrations on the development of spaces for the public have strengthened my interest in the role of the artist in society. This connects with the exploring reflective practice through a virtual learning environment in my role as Senior Lecturer at Norwich University College of the Arts.
My practice in general explores the idea of the book; specifically this body of work is an exploration of ideas around a sense of place. The book as a symbol of power and knowledge can be a vehicle to communicate directly; it is a form that is understood in these terms but repositioning its context and purpose challenges these very notions. The work becomes a question rather than an answer, a collaboration between maker and reader/viewer. The practical aspects of the book form, of disseminating information; of making things clearer is an interesting idea to question. The sculptural forms are derived from and examine the book form. The work explores the idea of form as a content and manipulation as the narrative. The work positions itself conceptually and physically between and within the idea of both sculpture and book. The hybrid nature of the work finds its roots in both forms – exploring and challenging both genres.
The idea of a sense of place comes from stillness and silence, a reflective experience of taking time to look, listen and consider the spaces I find myself in and my connection to them. The immediate landscape around my house and the walks I undertake provide a starting point for the work, the unseen and the seen have equal worth when making the work.
Employment
- 2012 Course Tutor MA in Book Art, University of the Arts London, Camberwell
- 2012 Senior Lecturer Textiles BA, Norwich University College of the Arts, Norwich
Solo exhibitions
- 2009 threads: mapped, Gallery 1.1 Town Hall Gallery, Ipswich
- 2005 suppose it is true after all?, The Cut Arts Centre, Halesworth
- 2003 folded space, IP Gallery, Colchester
- 2000 Reading landscapes, Focal Point
- 2000 Rural but not isolated, Peasenhall and Sibton Youth Club
- 1999 The Lesson, National Museum of Scotland
- 1998 A Selection, Aberdeen Art Gallery
- 1996 The Partner Left the Room, Ipswich Antenatal Clinic
- 1996 The Partner Left Room, Ipswich Antenatal Clinic
- 1995 Marking Land, Brewery Arts, Cirencester
- 1995 Anticipating Tomorrow, Eagle Gallery, London
- 1995 Footprints In The Sand, Minories, Colchester
- 1994 Books Are Important, Maison Du L A C, Picady, France
- 1994 The Ordinary Made Extraordinary, Hardware Gallery, London
- 1993 Footprints In The Sand, Piece Hall, Halifax, Aberdeen and St Bead
- 1992 Landscapes In Wood and Words, Gainsborough's House, Sudbury
- 1992 Unspoken Words, Midlands Art Centre, Birmingham
- 1990 A Fragile Walk, Victoria and Albert Museum
Group exhibitions
- 2012 repeat, Norwich Gallery, Norwich
- 2011 “Between You and Me’, Samwon Paper Gallery, Seoul, Korea
- 2011 Modified Expression, touring exhibition Kilkenny Festival, Irish Crafts Council head office
- 2010 we are the history of textiles, Dragon Hall, Norwich
- 2009 imprints, mediatheque La Durance, Cavaillon, France
- 2008 From Book to Book, Leeds Art Gallery, Leeds
- 2007 action/interaction, Chicago Centre for Book and Paper, USA
- 2007 Picasso’s Laboratory, St James Cavalier, Centre for Creativity, Valletta, Malta
- 2007 looking for, University of the arts, London
- 2006 Right here, right now, the Herbert, Coventry
- 2002 paperworks, Creative East Tour, Norfolk
- 2001 Paper past / paper perfect, Museum of Domestic Design and Architecture
- 2001 Views across the pond, Blickling Hall National Trust House
- 2001 Inside cover, Touring, Oxford Brookes
- 2001 On paper, Craft Council
- 2001 Edges, Crossing thresholds, UEA
- 1999 James Joyce's Typewriter and other Book Works, London Institute
- 1999 Real Lives, London College of Printing
- 1998 Changing Pages, Collins Gallery, Glasgow
- 1995 Bought To Book, Collins Gallery, Glasgow
- 1995 Artists Books, Tate Gallery
- 1995 Paperworks, Halifax Museum
- 1995 Beyond Reading, Glynn Vivian Gallery, Swansea
- 1995 Words Or Don't Stand On Trifles, Aspex, Portsmouth
- 1994 Artists Books From The Collection, London College of Printing
- 1994 Between Tradition And Innovation, Rijks Museum, Hague
- 1994 The Book, Ruskin Art Gallery
- 1993 Bookies And Boxes, Cartwright Hall
- 1993 British Artists Books, Crescent Arts Centre
Residencies
- 2007 Temporary installation - based on ideas around Picasso’s Les Demoiselles d’Avignon., Valletta, Malta
- 2001 Physical Poetry, Norfolk County Council, Libaries
- 2001 YOTA, Sibton Parish Council, Suffolk
- 2000 Engage, Encompass Project, UEA, Norfolk
Public commissions
- 2011 the big book, firstsite gallery, colchester
- 2011 Interactive print - Berryfield mosaic, firstsite, Colchester
- 2011 Journey to the podium, Essex County Council, 2012 Olympics
- 2009 Wrapping the Corn Exchange with cornfields and sky, Corn Exchange, Ipswich
- 2009 Longshop bench, Leiston Sq, Suffolk
- 2008 beyond, Housing Estate, Colchester
- 2006 Diss stones, Morrisons Diss, Diss
- 2005 What is important? – Working on a housing estate in Great Cornard within the Housing Department of B, Babergh District Council, Suffolk
- 2004 ‘Home Zone’, Suffolk County Council Environment and Planning Department., Lowestoft, Suffolk
- 2003 Marriott’s Way, cycle path, Norfolk County Council Planning and Transport Department., Marriott's Way, Norfolk
- 2002 Writing instructions / reading words – a site-specific text based work, Poetry Society, London
- 2001 Multi-functional street furniture, Quayside, Norwich
- 2000 Queen’s Suffolk Book, Suffolk County Council, Suffolk Record Office
Other
- 1990 The work has been acquired by numerous private and public collections nationally and internationally, collections, collections
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