Artist statement
Concepts
My work is cross disciplinary, the means and materials determined by the primary idea.Much of my work has come out of research into a family genealogy, in particular the way women are represented in the text of written histories. History as a form of sorting and collecting carries with it issues of differences and exclusion. The absence, silence and disqualification of women in both historical records and in contemporary situations are gaps and ommissions I explore in my work. Cultural and ethical issues influence and underlie my practice.
The work comes out of a critical and analytical view, in particular, of gender, race and politics. At the same time I try to make work that is accessible despite an emphasis on formal qualities and an abstract bias. Alongside my main pracice I also make one-off books which combine minimal text with various print media. Typically each project consists of work in a range of different media focused on specific themes.
Influences
All those 'F' words; family, friends, faith, feminism.
Career path
Qualifications:
1993 BA Hons, Fine Art (first), University of Hertfordshire
1982 BSc Hons, Sociology (2:1), Hatfield Polytechnic
Areas of work:
Primary education
Secondary education
Curating
Exhibiting
Practice-based research
Collections:
University of Hertfordshire
Solo exhibitions
- 2006 'For Lelethu', the Salt Gallery, Hayle Cornwall (more info)
- 2006 'For Lelethu', Phillack Church, Hayle Cornwall
- 2004 Landscapes of Memory, The Salt Gallery, Hayle, Cornwall
- 1999 Pocket Purses and Secret Places, Margaret Harvey Gallery, University of Hertfordshire
- 1998 Marking Presence, Letchworth Arts Centre
- 1996 The Business Centre Gallery, Luton, Bedfordshire
Group exhibitions
- 2011 Open Studios, Digswell Art Trust, Digswell Hertfordshire
- 2010 Open Studios, Digswell Art Trust, Digswell Hertfordshire
- 2010 Artists in Residence@Luton Hoo Walled Garden, Luton Hoo Estate, Bedfordshire LU1 3TQ
- 2010 Imaginarium, The New Maynard Gallery, Welwyn Garden City
- 2007 Herts Open, Margaret Harvey Gallery University of Hertfordshire, St Albans
- 2007 Id:entity, Westend Arts Centre, Aldershot
- 2005 Insiders: artand the box, Aberystwyth Arts Centre, Aberystwyth
- 2005 Insiders: art and the box, Canterbury Museum and Art Gallery, Canterbury
- 2005 Insiders: art and the box, Inverness Museum & Art Gallery, Inverness
- 2005 Insiders: art and the box, Swanston Gallery, Thurso
- 2005 Insiders: art and the box, Iona Gallery, Kingussie, Scotland
- 2005 Insiders: art and the box, St Fergus Gallery, Wick Scotland
- 2004 Artists Open, Margaret Harvey Gallery, St Albans Hertfordshire
- 2004 Insiders: art and the box, Quay Arts, Isle of Wight
- 2004 Insiders: art and the box, Rugby Museum and Art Gallery, Rugby
- 2004 Merging Cultures, Merging Arts, National Gallery of the Cayman Islands
- 2003 Insiders Art and the Box, Oriel DaviesGallery, Newtown Powys Wales SY16 2NZ
- 2001 Storage and Retrieval, selected works from University of Hertfordshire's permanent collection
- 2001 Taking Place, The Place, Letchworth Arts Centre
- 2000 OYO, Knebworth Exhibition Centre
- 1999 10 into 2000, Boxfield Gallery
- 1999 Shadows, Axis, online exhibition
- 1998 Artists Open, Margaret Harvey Gallery, University of Hertfordshire
- 1998 The Word's the Thing, Stroud House Gallery, Gloscestershire
- 1998 One Year On, Knebworth Exhibition Centre, Herts
- 1998 Parish Maps, Bovingdon
- 1998 Artists, St Albans, St Albans Museum
- 1997 1,000 Words, Horsham Arts Centre
- 1997 I Am What I Am, Women's Photographic Network-East, Radlett Centre, Hertfordshire
- 1996 Martineau Johnson, Birmingham Ikon touring
- 1996 The Arts Club, London
- 1996 Wood Green High School, Wednesbury Ikon touring
- 1996 New Victoria Theatre, Newcastle under Lyme Ikon touring
- 1996 The Flaxman Gallery, Staffordshire University
- 1996 Planning and Environment Deparmtent, County Hall, Hertford
- 1996 Inheritance, Ikon Touring, University of Derby; The Other Place, Stratford; Flaxman Gallery, Staffordshire University
Residencies
- 2010 Artist in Residence, Luton Hoo Walled Garden, Luton Bedfordshire
Site specific
- 2010 Artists in Residence@Luton Hoo Walled Garden, Luton Hoo Walled Garden, Luton Hoo Estate, Luton, Harpenden/Luton (more info)
Publications
- 2004 Insiders Art and the Box
- 1999 'Pockets Purses and Secret Places' Neeta Zin Hughes
- 1995 Art Review 'Degrees of Importance'
- 1994 The Independent ' the taste of things to come?'
Web links - article/press
Personal website
