Statement about my works
I define myself as a Collage Artist. I use digital and analog processes working in a variety of media. The main thread running through all my images is the human relationship with nature and the natural world. I am particularly interested in flowers and plants as metaphors.
Who are you?
Eccentric and trying to view the world through an odd shaped looking glass. Living in a bright coloured bubble. I’m an ever-curious and quite restless, creative soul and artist working in a variety of different media. I make fine art works using a mixture of collage and painting.
I live and breathe Art and have always been a Maker. A visual magpie – I love looking at Art and being inspired all the time to teach myself new things.
I live in Norfolk,UK. I have tried to be a strong and inspiring mother to my two beautiful and talented children, who I raised by myself, and hopefully gave them the courage to fly and be fearless.
I’ve been a Teacher of Art, Textiles and Photography for many years but I now work as a full time Artist.
Are you formally trained?
Formally trained. I completed my degree and postgraduate studies at Harrow School of Art & Brighton University specialising in Photography and then Fine Art. I was singled out in my final year for special bursary prizes from both Kodak and Agfa. After graduating I have taught Art, Textiles & Photography and continued to freelance and exhibit my work in the UK, Europe and US. I have acquired the most knowledge from being constantly curious and trying to teach myself new things. I’m never static and spend a lot of time looking at art on screens, in books and in galleries.
What inspires you?
Oh many, many things and sometimes quite bizarre. Dreams, books, people’s conversations, song lyrics, a colour, a plant, landscapes, gardens and travels – as well as work by artists who I love. Often it’s written words that make me see a picture in my mind but I am inspired by the visual just as much. I love books and reading. I am fascinated by strange things and love the work of other creatives who are not afraid to explore the dark, bizarre, eccentric and brooding aspects of life. David Lynch has been a long time inspiration as has Phillip Pullman.
I am very influenced by painting and contemporary illustration, decorative, theatrical fashion and the history of dress. I want my work to provoke an emotional response and for the viewer to be intrigued by the process behind it. I would like to think my art leaves an impression on the viewer that is not easily forgotten.
For the last few years I have really focused on portraiture. I am constantly exploring identity and beauty and suggesting a story behind the image. My portraits often depict women with an underlying sadness and emptiness, wearing a mask that is fleeting and fades.
Landscape is my other real passion, my landscapes are often melancholy and timeless but strikingly beautiful, full of romance, tradition and poetry. I like to make pictures that are full of silence.
Describe your days
I wake up every day and I feel really excited about my next piece of work. Materials, colours, ideas… all inspire me to keep making new work. Inspiration comes from many places and I devote lots of time to just looking at images by other artists. Most of my inspiration comes from contemporary Illustration and Painting. I’m a very productive image maker but I recognize the need for space and time outside work too, I like to be out walking in the countryside or at the coast whenever I can to declutter my thoughts and reconnect with nature and the landscape where I live.
Every bit of spare time goes into making Art of different kinds. Life has become Art and I really love that. It never feels forced or pressured, it has just evolved into a very good place to be. I’m very lucky to have been surrounded by creative people all my life. I have a lovely workroom with white walls and floorboards and a big window looking out on the garden and a huge walnut tree. My computer is at one end with pin boards of changing inspirations above it – postcards of paintings, printed cards of my work, little collages and embroideries, a separate wooden work table where I sew and many shelves of books, bright coloured fabrics, wools and threads. My work space is very organised and I can’t work in a cluttered space.
What drives you?
The restless spirit I think and a curiosity to try new directions and keep branching out. I like to have a lot of diverse projects and ideas on the go to challenge myself and push myself forwards. I’m interested in a lot of different things so I suppose my diversity is reflective of that. I feel comfortable with all the styles I work in and I enjoy them all. My biggest problem is time and always feeling there are never enough hours in the day!