I explore narratives (biographical and auto biographical) around municipal estates, particularly linked to notions of identity and belonging associated with these sites. My research documents municipal estates as they stand today, referencing change and memory through the production of drawings, the aim of these drawings is to map boundaries, events, and narratives before any trace is lost through development.
I explore narratives (biographical and auto biographical) around municipal estates, particularly linked to notions of identity and belonging associated with these sites. My research documents municipal estates as they stand today, referencing change and memory through the production of drawings, the aim of these drawings is to map boundaries, events, and narratives before any trace is lost through development.
I walk the estates with camera in hand pondering the past, finding triggers for events and memories, sometimes I arrive with the memory already focused with a plan, but at times it is just a walk of a well-trodden path. Some of the stories are light and funny, others troublesome and at times quite sinister, many of the images link together and form narratives about my life and the lives of others.
I initially use photography to capture the subject, once I have settled on an image and narrative, the preliminary image is drafted out, I work with fineliner pens to complete the drawings using red to punctuate the memory or to add to the narrative. The current body of work is based around my experiences of living on Avenham estate, Preston, Lancashire in the 70’s and 80’s.
~~Education
1998-9, BIAD, MA Fine Art, Birmingham
1994-7, Uclan, BA Honours Fine Art, Preston
Employment
2002-Present, Senior Lecturer in Fine Art, Uclan, Preston
2001-2002, Lecturer in Fine Art Painting, Lancaster University, Lancaster
Exhibitions Group and Solo
2019, Trinity Buoy Wharf Drawing Prize, Royal Drawing School, London
2019, Trinity Buoy Wharf Drawing Prize, AUB Gallery, Bournemouth
2018, Trinity Buoy Wharf Drawing Prize, Trinity Buoy, London
2018, Estates, Green Estates Project, Chelmsley Wood, Birmingham
2017, Something Blue, Cultivate
2017, Engage in Colour, Art Bound Community, Mirfield
2017, Hanover Research Group, Bloc Projects, Sheffield
2015, Painted Surface, Surface Gallery, Nottingham
2015, Creekside Open, selected by Richard Deacon, APT Gallery, London
2015, Black on White, Oriel Gallery, Mold
2014, Nocturne, Fringe Arts Festival, Bath
2014, 20:20, Touring, Preston/Manchester/Liverpool
2013, Biennale, Basal Heath, Birmingham
2013, Painting Exchange, Art House Co Op, NY, USA
2012, 60 Drawings, Blankley Gallery, Manchester
2011, Drawn Together, Sienna Art Institute, Italy
2011, Open Up North, Brewery Arts Centre, Kendal
2011, Sketchbook Project, Art House Co Op, NY, USA
2009, Triple Echo, Touring, Preston/Liverpool
2009, Boundaries, PAD Gallery, Preston
2009, Myth & History, The Bristol Gallery, Bristol
2008, Art in Woodstock, Oxfordshire
2008, Our City, PAD Gallery, Preston
2008, Night a Time, RWA, Bristol
2007, Jerusalem, PAD Gallery, Preston
2007, Artlab, PAD Gallery, Preston
2006, Group Show, Shore Gallery, London
2004/5, Distance no Object, Bowes Museun, County Durham
2003, La Corona, Group Show, Preston
2003, Figurative Postcards, Centre for Contemporary Art, Preston
2002, Blurred, Victoria Gallery, Preston
2001, Space, Alsager Gallery, Manchester Metropolitan
2000, Transcendental, Centre for Contemporary Art, Preston
2002, Open to the Public, Art Station, Crewe
2000, Office Hours, Victoria Gallery, Preston
2000, Pure Paint, Brixton Art Gallery, London
2000, Group Show, Jessops, Birmingham
2000, Group Show, Number 9 the Gallery, Birmingham
1999, More Insecure Thoughts, Greenbank Gallery, Preston
1999, Created Space, Whitely’s Gallery, London
1999, Field of Dreams, The works Gallery, Birmingham
1999, Smooth, Banana Gallery, Birmingham
1999, Group Show, Custard Factory, Birmingham
1998, More Insecure Thoughts, Harris Museum and Art Gallery, Preston
1998, Depth of Feeling, Lawrence Bately Theatre, Huddersfield
1998, Insecure thoughts, Tampopo Restaurant, Manchester
1997, Group Show, The Gallery, Masham
1996, Art Bizarre, Harris Museum and Art Gallery, Preston
1995, Rwanda Appeal, Harris Museum and Art Gallery, Preston
Residency
2006, University of Central Lancashire, Art in Science Buildings, Preston
Commission
2000, Kings College Hospital, Memorial Plaques, London
Awards
2000, West Midlands Arts, Creative Ambition Award, Birmingham
