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Art and design, gardening and photography are my life-long passions. Nature is my greatest inspiration. I have a camera with me at all times so as not to miss the chance to capture the moment. Although many of my photographs are taken whilst travelling, a large percentage of my images are taken in my garden, when the light, weather and time of day highlights something familiar. I began designing gardens in 1999, after studying for a City and Guilds in gardening and studying Garden Design at Writtle College. In 2001, I submitted a garden design for a small ‘Chic' garden at the Chelsea Flower Show, trading under the name of Design In Green. My design was accepted and I exhibited at the Show in 2002 where I was awarded a Bronze medal. I enjoyed the challenge and experience of exhibiting at a major Show and went on to exhibit at The Hampton Court Palace Flower Show in 2003 and 2004, where I was awarded a Bronze and Silver Medal. Working with artists, to create my ideas, inspired me to make my own sculptures. The majority of my sculptures are based upon plant forms. For my forged mild steel work I looked at grafting techniques for inspiration, adapting them as a way of joining metal. I was able to devise methods of joining lengths of different thicknesses of mild steel rod to allow the structure to appear to grow vertically, beginning at the base with a wider diameter steel rod, progressing up the ‘plant' form with lighter weight rod to represent the growth of a real plant. Sewing techniques led me to devise other ways to connect sections to allow the forms to appear to ‘grow', both vertically and horizontally. Much of the work is inspired by the landscape graphics I use when I draw a garden plan. I am currently developing a new range of work drawing inspiration from my photographic images of water. By starting with one of my images, adapting the 2D image into a 3D metal form and then placing the sculpture in a garden setting I am able to tie all aspects of my work together. My present work is a culmination of all my interests. |
QUALFICATIONS BA (Hons) Art and Design 3D Design & Craft - 1st Class (Colchester School of Art and Design) Diploma Foundation in Art & Design BTEC National Diploma in Fine Arts Selected modules from BSc (Hons) Landscape & Garden Design - Writtle College; Visual Studies; Basic Design: Spatial Design Studies: Detail Design: Landscapes, Gardens And The Arts: Traditional And Contemporary Planting City And Guilds: The Certificate in Gardening Licentiate member of The Society of Designer Craftsmen AWARDS
Suffolk Craft Society 'Making it' scheme for new graduates - 2011 Cuckoo Farm Studios/Colchester School of Art and Design Graduate Scholarship Award-2009 Formica Design A Laminate Competition 2006 - included in Design a Laminate Book EXHIBITIONS Epping Forest Field Centre, Loughton, Essex. September 2011 The Essex Art & Design Show - Hyde Hall, Essex. August 2011 'Ruby Red'-Suffolk Craft Society, Aldeburgh, Suffolk. July/Aug 2011 Art in the Garden 11 - sculpture in Hillier Gardens, Hampshire. May-October 2011 Walk the Seasons -solo exhibition-Cuckoo Farm Studios. April 2011 Making It - Suffolk Craft Society, Ipswich. March-April 2011 Designer Crafts at the Mall, Society of Designer Craftsmen, London. January 2011 Art in the Garden 10 - sculpture in Hillier Gardens, Hampshire. May- October 2010 The Essex Art & Design Shows, August & September 2010 Outside 2010 - sculpture in grounds of Cuckoo Farm Studios, Colchester - August 2010 'Closer' - Colchester Hospital Art Gallery, April 2010 ‘Canopy' - The Minories Art Gallery, Colchester, February-April 2010 Art In the Garden 09 - indoor exhibition, Hillier Gardens, Hampshire, October 2009 New Designers, London, July 2009 Degree Show, June 2009 The Essex Art & Design Show, September 2008 The Wivenhoe Gallery, July 2008 Cuckoo Farm Studio, Colchester, June 2008 LINKS For more details of all the organisations that I am either a member of or currently work with please see my links page |
