Artist statement
My practice emerges from an interest in the shared relationships we develop with our own sense of history and culture. I am inspired by the discovery of intertwining or lost histories that surface unexpectedly. Recent work has been inspired by folk tales, mythology and literature; narratives that work to distinguish communities through their allegiance to different belief systems and ancestors, but also unite humanity through the common motifs that recur across diverse cultures’ oral traditions. The birds and animals featured become the heroes and villains of open-ended narratives as if the viewer has stepped in halfway through a story, triggering an imaginative reverie, encouraging them to delve into the world of myth and illusion. The work also explores our relationship with the natural world and our imagination, creating otherworldly images that cross cultures and generations.
I am currently developing a body of work where I am collaborating with my sitters to create their portraits. These images are still inspired by tales but this time ones chosen the sitters, exploring particular characters they feel a connection with. From Arthurian legend to Greek mythology to Animist gods these images continue demonstrating the universality of story-telling, as well as the idiosyncrasies of mythology.
Qualifications and training
- 2004 Impact Training for Community Artists, City Arts, Nottingham (more info)
- 2003 7307 City and Guilds, Level 3 Certificate in Adult Teaching, Leicester Adult Education Centre, Leicester (more info)
- 2002 MA Photography, De Montfort University, Leicester
- 2000 Seeing the Light postgraduate course, Picture House Centre for Photography, Leicester
- 1996 BA (hons) Graphic Design [2:1], De Montfort University, Leicester
Employment
- 2004 Senior Lecturer, De Montfort University, Leicester (more info)
- 2003 Director, Audible Headscratch, Leicester (more info)
- 2000 Multimedia Artsworker, Charnwood Arts, Loughborough (more info)
- 1997 Art Director, Hybrid Communications, Leicester (more info)
Solo exhibitions
- 2009 In a Different Light, Siddhatha Gallery, Kathmandu
- 2009 In A Different Light, Milton Keynes Contemporary - WHITEWALL, Milton Keynes
- 2007 Absence of Light, Charnwood Museum, loughborough
- 2006 Memento Mori, LCB Depot, Leicester (more info)
- 2006 Memento Mori, Format Festival, Derby (more info)
- 2005 Homeless scape, The Dawn Centre, Leicester (more info)
- 2003 Voice, De Montfort Hall, Leicester (more info)
- 2003 Island Rites, Adult Education Centre, Leicester
Group exhibitions
- 2010 Gathered World, Aberyswyth Arts Centre, Wales
- 2009 In a Different Light, 1st Street Gallery, Colorado, USA
- 2008 Nothing Special, Novas Centre, London
- 2007 Nottingham Open, Angel Row Gallery, Nottingham
- 2007 Silent at Heart, The Air Gallery, Mayfair, London
- 2007 Curzon Street Station, New Art Birmingham Festival, Birmingham
- 2007 Abandoned Chairs, Norwich Arts Centre, Norwich
- 2006 Inspired Art Fair, Christchurch, Spitalfields, London
- 2006 Format Festival 06, The Voicebox, Derby
- 2004 Annual Open, The City Gallery, Leicester (more info)
- 2004 Foursite, UCN Gallery, Northampton (more info)
- 2003 Kingdom Come (part of Liquid Light), Various, Montego Bay, Kingston in Jamaica
- 2003 Kingdom Come (part of Liquid Light), Jamaican High Commission, London
- 2003 Kingdom Come (part of Liquid Light), The Picture House, Leicester
- 2003 Choices, Loughborough Town Hall, Loughborough
- 2002 Living Well (part of Lightgeist), Photofusion, London
- 2001 Thik and thin, The Y Gallery, Leicester
- 2000 Diatribe, City Gallery Touring Exhibiton, Leicestershire
- 2000 Diatribe, Diorama Gallery, London
Residencies
- 2011 Artist Residency, Aberystwyth Arts Centre, Wales
- 2009 Colorado Artist Residency, Colorado Art Ranch, Colorado, USA
- 2008 Himalayan Art Workshop, Esther Benjamins Trust, Nepal
- 2007 KIDS residency, Photovoice/Young Peoples Inclusion Network, West Midlands
- 2004 Creative Consultation (Coxmoor Estate), New Perspectives, Mansfield (more info)
- 2003 Voice - Storytelling/Film Stills Residency, City Gallery, Leicester (more info)
- 2002 Liquid Light Residency, The British Council, Jamaica
Public commissions
- 2007 Silent at Heart, NHS Cardiac Network/Wellcome Trust, London
- 2007 Write:muse, Leicestershire Museums Service, Charnwood Museum
- 2005 Homeless-scape, Public Art Leicester, The Dawn Centre, Leicester
- 2003 Rural Communities Bursary, Arts Council of England, East Midlands (more info)
