Artist statement
I create sculptural forms using textiles, found objects, collected personal and family memorabilia, and recycled materials mixed with new. Establishing a real or imagined narrative around the materials I work with drives my practice.
The physical qualities, and history of original use and functions, inform the invented record of each piece. It is an exploration of colour, technique and form, and my own associations with the materials and objects. The importance of textiles in each piece comes from cherishing fabrics as a child - dressing up in old remnants and playing, fabric shopping on the markets with female relatives, and hand sewn garments being made and passed on. As a result of this upbringing I value the handmade clothes and recycling, treasuring the imperfections of the handmade, and the accidents and qualities of sewn treasures by family and friends. Using their original tactile nature and appearance, unpicked of their original form, recycled clothes and collected objects hint at their old life, while a changed identity and structure suggests a new one.
It is an exploration of colour, technique and form, influenced by retro objects, secret details and a process driven design.
Qualifications and training
- 1992 Textiles/Fashion-Embroidery, Manchester Polytechnic, Manchester
Solo exhibitions
- 2012 Within The Glass Dome, Bilston Craft Gallery, Wolverhampton
- 2003 Showcase, Arts Council West Midlands, Birmingham
- 2002 Textiles Exhibition, Stop House, British Waterways, Northamptonshire
- 2002 Textile Exhibition, Peter Scott Gallery, Lancaster University
Group exhibitions
- 2013 SOCK Craft and Commission Fair, Loughborough Town Hall, Loughborough
- 2013 PINT, The Brewhouse, Burton upon Trent
- 2012 I Give You This, The Brewhouse, Burton upon Trent
- 2012 Gifted 12, National Centre for Craft and Design, Sleaford
- 2012 Unit12 Craft Open, Unit 12 Gallery, Stafford
- 2011 Precious Things, New Brewery Arts, Cirencester
- 2011 Sculpture in the Sanctuary, Swan Sanctuary, Southwell, Nottinghamshire
- 2011 Open, Leamington Spa Art Gallery and Museum, Leamington Spa
- 2010 Made to Measure, New Brewery Arts Centre, Cirencester
- 2009 Warped or Not?, Artspace, Coventry
- 2009 Concept, Northampton University, Northampton
- 2007 Open, Leicester City Gallery, Leicester
- 2007 Open, Rugby Art Gallery and Museum, Rugby, Warwickshire
- 2004 Open, Pump Rooms, Leamington Spa
- 2003 Crafty Tales, Rugby Art Gallery and Museum, Warwickshire
- 2003 Wired, Bishops Gallery, Salop
- 2003 Submerse, Walford Mill Craft Centre, Dorset
- 2003 Vessels, Romney Marsh Craft Centre, Folkestone
- 2002 Chelsea Crafts Fair, Chelsea Town Hall, London
- 2002 Birmingham Designer Maker Fair, MAC, Birmingham
- 2002 Leicester City Gallery, 14th Annual Open Exhibition, Leicester
- 2001 Open, Herbert Gallery and Museum, Coventry
Curated projects
- 2009 Exhibitions Officer, TaP Textiles and Paper Group, West Midlands
Workshops
- 2009 Memories, Active8 Arts and Warwickshire County Council, Nuneaton
- 2008 Growing Together, Rugby Schools, Warwickshire
- 2006 Reminiscence, Artszone, Inter-generational Film Project, Warwickshire
Residencies
- 2012 Woven Threads, Offchurch Village Green, Warwickshire
- 2009 Story Hats- Early Years and Adult special needs, Nuneaton Drop and Shop/ Warwickshire County Council, Nuneaton
- 2009 Artsfest Birmingam, Heart of england Galleries Consortium, Victoria Square, Birmingham
- 2001 Memories Tapestry, Rugby West Indian Associatio, Warwickshire
Private commissions
- 2002 Textile Vessels, Private Clients, Uk, Australia, France
- 1999 Illustrator, Usbourne Publishing, London
- 1999 Illustrator, Fife County Council, Scotland
- 1999 Canvas Artwork, Liddingtons Pubs, West Midlands
- 1996 Original Designer, Think Positive Textile Agency, Australia
Projects
- 2010 Crafts Conservatory retail development, Rugby Art Gallery and Museum, Warwickshire
- 2008 Co-ordinator, Mayday Trust Special Needs Art Group, Warwickshire
- 2007 Coordinator, Pupil Regeneration Unit and Rugby Art Gallery and Museum, Warwickshire
- 2007 Coordinator, Rugby Gallery Special Needs Art Group, Warwickshire
- 2006 Coordinator, Craftspace and Rugby Art gallery and Museum At Home II, Warwickshire
Competitions, prizes and awards
- 2011 Commended Open Entry, Leamington Spa Art Gallery and Museum, Warwickshire
- 2010 Community Arts Professional Development Award, County Arts, Warwickshire County Counil
- 2009 Grants for the Arts Research and Development Grant, Arts Council, West Midlands
- 2002 Chelsea Crafts Fair, New Exhibitors Award Shortlist, Crafts Council, London
- 2002 Arts Grant, Rugby Borough Council, Warwickshire
- 2002 Creative Ambition Award, West Midlands Arts, West Midlands
Educational experience - early years
- 2002 Artist in Residence, Artists in warwickshire Education, Warwickshire Schools, Warwickshire
Educational experience - primary
- 2011 Creative Partnerships Outside Space, Priorslee Primary School, Telford
- 2011 Creative Partnerships Eco Warriors, Castlefort JMI Primary School, Walsall
- 2005 Creativity Project, Solihull Schools, West Midlands
Educational experience - tertiary
- 2010 Visiting |Tutor, BA Surface Pattern, Northampton University
- 2000 Painting and Drawing Tutor, Percival Guild House, Warwickshire
Educational experience - special needs
- 2010 Creative Practitioner, Brooke School, Rugby, Warwickshire
- 2010 Wild Things Integral Arts Day, Coleshill School Cluster, West Midlands
