My current artworks attempt to convey a range of complex autobiographical references. I utilise a range of craft processes and techniques to do this from embroidery to basketmaking. I was trained as a 'conceptual artist' at Central St.Martins during the 80's and early 90's a time of mass consumerism and greed. My work was ethereal often using found materials to convey political issues. The Women's Movement was strong but the 'Gay-Subversive' voice was absent in our critical theory. As a result I spoke through my mother's voice and explored her experiences of the holocaust through pieces of found clothing.Later I moved to Brighton and created celebatory mosaic works-very much in style of Andrew Logan.
My current artworks attempt to convey a range of complex autobiographical references. I utilise a range of craft processes and techniques to do this from embroidery to basketmaking. I was trained as a 'conceptual artist' at Central St.Martins during the 80's and early 90's a time of mass consumerism and greed. My work was ethereal often using found materials to convey political issues. The Women's Movement was strong but the 'Gay-Subversive' voice was absent in our critical theory. As a result I spoke through my mother's voice and explored her experiences of the holocaust through pieces of found clothing.Later I moved to Brighton and created celebatory mosaic works-very much in style of Andrew Logan.
During the COVID Crisis my mood shifted to an internalised one- using basketry to tentatively deal with the 'enclosed' nature of our existance. I also created a'bizarre' yet working spinning system' from entirely salvaged materials and experimented in vegetable dyes.
In 2021 I started my MA studies at Brighton University in Textiles. I am currently working with found objects found during South Down walks to comment on current environmental concerns- a collective issue now very close to my heart.
Moving to Sussex in the late 1990s my desire was to set up a working studio/art practise. I began to experiment in a wider range of materials including glass, wire, recycled materials, paper and mosaic fragments .I started to create single pieces and exhibited them in the South East. Craft - the process of making by hand has been important to me from a early age. i was activley encouraged to sew, work in embroidery and in wood and this has developed into a teaching practise in later life. I trained in Adult and Community Education and started to run a variety of weekend courses and longer courses focussing on craft.
I currently work for two colleges in East Sussex delivering workshops in wood carving,whittling, willow weaving and foraged basket making.Craft making as a calming process to enhance mental wellbeing is central to my working practise.
Ten years ago, I decided to persue my passion in horticulture alongside my sculptural practise and trained to become a professional gardener. This opened up a whole new realm of natural materials to work with including willow and seasonal cuttings to create into a variety of new sculptural garden forms.
Commissions followed, including large lifesize figures for Eastbourne Ancestors Exhibition in wire and willow and developing a range of foraging, forestry and basketry workshops for the Sussex Wildlife Trust.
Most recently, I am working on developing a range of foraging and forestry craft workshops and creating large scale willow basketry sculpture celebrating nearly forgotten crafts and techniques in willow together with working on autobiograpical installation pieces exploring issues related to migration and displacement.
