Profile
My artistic practice is grounded in process, whether drawing, constructing, or facilitating a creative session for others.
I work with simple basic materials, which can be easily obtained and require little or no specialist equipment. My imagination and my practical skills are what drive my work, allowing me to make the most of any creative opportunities .
Making and creating, for me, is a dynamic process, generating a good sense of well-being, accomplishment and above all fun, these are qualities which I hope are communicated in my work, both as an artist and as an arts educator/facilitator.
Works on Paper
I enjoy exploring the potential of basic materials and paper and water make good creative companions. The unpredictable results caused by introducing additional soluble material adds to the creative equation and keep me engaged and curious about what can happen next. The images I create are bold and colourful responses to places and moments in time.
Sculptural Work
This is a relatively new area of my work. Over the years I have felt compelled to explore the ideas I've been expressing on paper in 3D form and began by attending a stone carving class at Edinburgh Sculpture Workshop, one course was enough to develop my visual and creative vocabulary, and following a weekend course in Mixed media sculpture, I discovered a whole new way of expressing myself, primarily through manipulating old bike tyres, of which I have a ready supply. Working 3 dimensionally has now become my main creative outlet and recently I have begun working with a combination of stone and bike tyres exploring journeys we make in life. These chance discoveries leading to new ways of working are what I find both fascinating and exciting, as the results are always surprising and fresh, keeping me engaged as an artist.
Workshops and Classes
A continuing thread through my career has been delivering and facilitating creative sessions and opportunities for children, young people and adults. The essence of these sessions is about having fun, playing and developing individual creative and artistic confidence and skills.
- CPD for teachers,youth workers, childcare staff
- Creative workshops for parents and children
- Evening class in developing skills in drawing and painting
- Arts based youth projects
- Drawing workshops for groups
- Workshop sessions for schools
A Wee Bit About Me
- 1979-83 Edinburgh College of Art - studied Drawing & Painting - completing final year in Printmaking
- 1984-85 Moray House College of Further Education - Post Graduate Certificate in Community Education
Exhibitions
- 2009 - Group show - Paradise Lost and Regain'd - Chambers Inst Peebles
- 2008 - Solo show - INKWATER:GRAPHITE Penicuik Arts Centre
- March 2003 - 2 Woman Exhibition 'OUTSIDE:IN' @ Patriothall W.A.S.P.S Gallery space
- 1985 - Artists Offshore - Aberdeen
- 1984 - Collective Gallery -Edinburgh Joint show - Landforms
- 1983 - Whitworth Young Contemporaries - Manchester
- 1982 - Stowells Trophy Exhibition - London
Prizes
- 1983 - R.S.A students exhibition - Robert Allison Purchase prize
- 2004 - S.S.A - Website award
Other experience
Artist's assistant to Kate Whiteford for installation project on Calton Hill, at Graeme Murray Gallery and Scottish Gallery of Modern Art 86/87.
Founder member of Collective Gallery, Edinburgh, involved in steering committee for developing & setting up in original premises on High St in Edinburgh.
S.S.A & group shows at Collective Gallery between, 83 & '87.
Elected to Council of Scottish Society of Artists 2007
I am also the mother of 3 children, and have kept my creative practice alive during their upbringing. My family have been my critical friends over the years, contributing ideas at times when work is in progress.
