Artist statement
I have an increasing fascination with the shapes, colours, patterns and structures in the natural world and a need to connect with it. Construction processes, modular forms and microcosms intrigue me. I have always developed my work in a modular way. I am curious to find out that by developing one small unit, which is then repeated and joined to another, what form I can create. The joining method used to connect one form to another is an integral part of the visual. I am now interested in using this idea to create an environment.
The previous history of my materials contributes to the shapes I produce. I never intend to camouflage the nature of the object I am re-using. If the origins of the materials cannot be identified I offer some clues to the original identity as that is part of the story of the artwork.
Translucency and an ephemeral quality are part of my work, despite using robust materials – plastics. The actual materials are often transparent and space is captured in the form, so the air itself becomes an integral part. These light-weight forms will interact with the environment in which they are placed as they move in air currents.
Irony is also part of the work, the shapes and forms allude to the natural world, but they will never be part of that natural world as they are made from material waste from our lifestyles, which can never be absorbed back into the ecosystem. They are pollutants. This has negative connotations, but the artwork itself can be a positive affirmation of the beauty in nature. These pollutant materials at one and the same time are portents of doom to the natural world, which the structure/installation celebrates.
Qualifications and training
- 2006 Bronze and Silver Arts Award Training, The Garage, Norwich
- 2006 Effective Practive Unit Award and PLUS Enrichment Implementation, The Garage, Norwich
- 2000 MA Degree in Design by Independent Project, theoretical public art commission, Brighton University, Brighton
- 1995 Diploma of Credit, Artists in Primary Schools, Anglia Polytechnic University, Cambridge
- 1990 Jewellery and Silversmithing BA Hons Degree, Birmingham Institute of Art and Design, Birmingham
Group exhibitions
- 2011 The Journey - Bergh Apton Sculpture Trail, Bergh Apton gardens, Bergh Apton, Norfolk
- 2008 SEAhouse, LIGHThouse, SPIRIThouse: Salthouse 08, Salthouse Church, Salthouse, North Norfolk
- 2008 Balance, Sculpture Trail, Bergh Apton
- 2008 Norfolk Open Studios exhibition, The Forum, Norwich
- 2007 Norfolk Open Studios Central Taster Exhibition, Assembly House, Norwich
- 2006 Norwich Festival Fringe Visual Arts Trail, Boardman House, Norwich
- 2006 Reworked, Oriel Washington Gallery, Penarth, Cardiff
- 2005 Plankton II, a kinetic suspended installation for vestibule of Church, Salthouse 05, part of Norwich CAN 05, Salthouse Church, Salthouse, North Norfolk
- 2004 If Hermes wore Jewellery, a neckpiece-mobile, Looking Over My Shoulder, Lesley Craze Gallery 25th anniversary, London
- 2004 Plankton I, kinetic suspended artwork using plastic bottles, Fringe at the Factory, part of Norwich Fringe Festival, Norwich, Norfolk
- 2003 Enter Here - small paper sculptures, Touring, started at Brewery Arts, Cirencester
- 2003 Ascending, suspended artwork of screen printed digital image, Art at the Factory, part of Norwich Fringe Festival, The Old Bally Shoe Factory, Norwich
- 2001 Lighting Stabile, John Innes Conference Centre, The Food Research Park, Norwich, Norfolk, culmination of project initiated for MA Degree to design and make lightwork for specific location
- 2001 Extraordinary, exhibition of contemporary jewellery in recycled materials, toured Northern Region ending at Bowes Museum, Barnard Castle, Co. Durham
- 2000 International Contemporary Jewellery Exhibition, touring, organised by Cleveland Crafts Centre, Middlesborough
- 1999 Three decades of jewellery design, Shirehall Gallery, Stafford
- 1999 Rarefind, a collection of contemporary jewellery, New Ashgate Gallery, Farnham, Surrey
- 1999 A matter of materials, exhibition of twenty five European jewellers, touring USA and Canada
- 1998 Contemporary jewellery exhibition, five young designers exhibiting with Wendy Ramshaw and David Watkins, The Galerie Nana Hellwege, Hamburg, Germany
- 1998 Bubble-icious, a Craftspace touring exhibition featuring twelve jewellers working in plastics, UK and Barcelona, Spain
Curated projects
- 2009 Sculpture & images -Karen Whiterod & Viv Allen, Wymondham Arts Centre, Wymondham, Norfolk
Artist talks
- 2007 Greening of plastics, Briston Wives Group, Briston, Norfolk
- 2007 Greening of plastics, Great Yarmouth Guild of Artists and Craftsmen, Gt Yarmouth Library, Norfolk
Workshops
- 2011 Fish sculpture workshop with waste plastics - Green Build event, Felbrigg Hall, Felbrigg, Norfolk
- 2010 Windmills workshop & Flora workshop - Green Build event, Felbrigg Hall, Felbrigg, Norfolk
- 2009 Printing blocks with recycled materials - Green Build event, Felbrigg Hall, Felbrigg, Norfolk
- 2008 Dragonfly & Tree Mobiles - Green Build event, Felbrigg Hall, Felbrigg, Norfolk
- 2008 Tree Hangings - Pride in Marham event, RAF Marham, Marham, Norfolk
- 2008 Enter the Dragonfly - Art in the Park events, Bacton Woods and Holt Country Park, North Norfolk
- 2008 Puppets and masks, Roudham Village Hall, Norfolk
- 2008 Sculpture with Light and Recycled Materials, British Columbia Hall, Salthouse, North Norfolk
- 2007 Float like a Butterfly - drop-in workshop making giant butterflies from waste plastics, Art in the Park (North Norfolk District Council), Holt Country Park, Norfolk
- 2007 Jewellery with recycled plastics, Earth from the Air exhibition education programme, The Forum, Norwich, Norfolk
- 2007 Decorative Vessels, Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts, Norwich, Norfolk
- 2007 Nylon Jewellery Workshop, St Peter's Park Lane Methodist Church, Norwich, Norfolk
- 2006 Festive Garland workshop using recycled materials, Weeting 21 the Old Schoolhouse, Weeting
- 2006 Suspended Tree Mobiles with recycled plastics, Holt Country Park, Holt, Norfolk
- 2006 Print workshop using recycled materials, Salthouse 06 exhibition, Salthouse, Norfolk
- 2006 Hanging sculpture using recycled materials with primary schools, Salthouse 06 exhibition, Salthouse, Norfolk
- 2005 Mobiles with recycled materials, Newmarket Leisure Centre, for Forest Heath District Council, Newmarket
- 2005 Jewellery relating to Egyptians, For Kings Lynn Museum, Dersingham village hall
- 2001 Making resist dyed window ornaments with nylon with group suffering from eating disorders, Newmarket clinic, Norwich, Norfolk
Projects
- 2009 Artists for Climate Change group started, http://schools.norfolk.gov.uk/index.cfm?s=1&m=4001&p=2423,index, Programmes to take place in any schools
- 2006 Art for recycling stations at Royal Norfolk Show with high schools, Norfolk Showground, Norwich (more info)
- 2005 Carnival costumes from recycled materials for Green Breckland project, Pupils from High School and two feeder primaries, half term workshops and for participation in Watton carnival and Green Breckland Fun Day, Wayland Community High School, Watton and EcoTech, Swaffham, Norfolk
- 2004 Workshops with Lakenheath Middle school and teenagers with Crime Concern to produce images for invitations and publicity leaflet for opening of Maidshill Cross, Parks Department of Forest Heath District Council, Lakenheath, Brandon and Maidshill Cross Nature Reserve
- 2003 After school art club for Year 8 pupils from Earlham High School, looking at exhibits and making suspended artwork, Castle Museum, Norwich
- 2002 Intergenerational Project, children created 2d and 3d artwork inspired by reminiscences of elderly on swimming and waterbased activities in Norwich area, Lakenheath Middle School and Corton House, organised by Norwich and Norfolk Community Arts Ltd, Norwich, Norfolk
- 1998 Creating body adornment from recycled materials for people with range of disabilities, Vauxhall Centre, Norwich
Competitions, prizes and awards
- 2008 Grants for the Arts, Arts Council England, East, Norwich
- 2008 Norfolk Arts Project Fund, Norfolk County Council, Norwich
- 1997 Most Innovative New Product Award, British Craft Trade Fair, Harrogate, UK
- 1996 Best New Product Award, Crafts from Britain, Harrogate, UK
Educational experience - early years
- 2006 Print workshop using recycled materials for early years, Afterschool club, Alderman Swindell First School, Gt Yarmouth, Norfolk
Educational experience - primary
- 2008 Exotic Creatures with recycled materials, Ormesby First School, Ormesby, Norfolk
- 2007 Fantasy Flora and Fauna - mini sculptures for the hedgerows, Alpington Primary School, Alpington, Norfolk
- 2007 Circles, Spheres and Spirals 3d wall hanging with recycled materials, Litcham Primary School, Litcham, Norfolk
Educational experience - secondary
- 2008 Artist in Residence - Wearable Art using waste materials, Harris Middle School, Lowestoft, Suffolk
- 2008 Nylon Jewellery, Northgate High School, Dereham
Publications
- 2009 Book: Design & make non-precious jewellery – Kathie Murphy, pub A&C Black
- 1998 Article: Sudi Pigott, Bright New Things, Living etc
- 1997 Article: James Evans, Eye to Eye, [a-n] Magazine For Artists.
Other
- 2007 Carnival Float for Cromer Carnival, Environment Departments of local councils, Cromer, North Norfolk
- 2007 Carnival Float for Lord Mayor's Street Procession, Environment Department, Norfolk County Council, Norwich
Web links - gallery/work/projects
Personal website
