Artist Statement
My earlier (and some current work), consists many years of sculptural and painted projects, while my fascination for mosaic work began ten years ago. I had used tessellated techniques on large environmental sculptures in the past, using fibreglass resin and a wide variety of materials, since then mosaic making, 2-dimensional and structural, has taken up a large part of my working life. Projects have included collections that combine elements from past sculptural and written themes, using symbolism that has re-occurred for me through every medium. Current exhibition work focuses on a fusion of several years ideas and experimentation, using both traditional and more experimental methods and material a large part of which is made with the Direct Method . These include: smalti, vitreous glass, hand-painted ceramics, stone, gold leaf and resin products. I aim to take my mosaic making beyond the merely decorative, with challenging visual imagery and a very individual approach to my materials. Hand-painted ceramics, for example, allow me to achieve a painterly surface, which when juxtaposed with other elements become a personal and unique statement. I am a member of BAMM, (British Association for Modern Mosaics), and as such I work to give a higher profile to fine art mosaics in Scotland and beyond through my commissioned work, articles and exhibitions. My most recent exhibition Resurfacings, at the University of Glasgow in Dumfries in 2006 featured a collection of themed indoor mosaics, wall hanging and free-standing, exploring the categories of Stories Signs and Superstitions. I received a Scottish Arts Council award towards the cost of three large pieces in this show. I work from my home studio base. My hope for the future would be to receive further interesting and challenging commissions in the mediums in which I work.
CV & Education
Qualifications and training
1999 - City and Guilds Adult Learners Teaching Practise, Stage One, Cricket Road Education Centre, Oxford
1982 - Post-Graduate Commonwealth Scholarship Award, Viswa Bharati University, School of Sculpture, Shantiniketan, West Bengal, India
1974 - BA Fine Art Degree, Ist Class Honours, Maidstone College of Art and Design -School of Painting, Maidstone, Kent, UK
Solo exhibitions
2009 - Spring Fling Open Studio Event, The Smithy Studio, Kirkcudbright
2008 - Spring Fling, The Smithy Studio., Kirkcudbright
2007 - Spring Fling- Artists and Craftmakers Open Studio Weekend, The Smithy Studio, Kirkcudbright
2007 - Untitled, The Cat's Moustache Gallery, Creetown
2006 - Portrack, The Bakehouse, Gatehouse of Fleet, South West Scotland
2006 - 'Resurfacings' - Indoor themed mosaics, The University of Glasgow in Dumfries, Crichton Campus, Dumfries
2003 - Recent Mosaic Work, Threave- National Trust House and Gardens, Castle Douglas, Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland
1993 - The Tempest - Designs for sets and costumes, The Actors Institute, The Angel, Islington, London
1991 - Recent Works, The Central Libraries Galleries, Fieldway Crescent, Holloway, London
1974 - The Dig - Fine Art Diploma Show, Maidstone College of Art and Design, Maistone, Kent
Group exhibitions
2009 - Music of the Eye, Corinium Museum, Cirencester
2009 - Saratoga Arts Festival, Saratoga Festival Gallery, Saratoga - U.S.A.
2008 - International Year of Planet Earth Mosaic Exhibition, Opus Mosaics Gallery, Exeter, Devon
2008 - Rencontres Internationales de Mosaique a Chartres, Chapelle du Lycee Fulbert, Chartres, France
2007 - Facades, Wakefield Art Gallery, Wakefield
2007 - Permanent Showcase of Scottish Art, The Scottish Showcase Gallery, Kirkcudbright, Scotland
2007 - The Cart Before The Horse, The Maxwelltown Gallery, Dumfries, Dumfries
2006 - Country Pursuits, indoor wall mosaics in a mixed exhibition, The Whitehouse Gallery, Kirkcudbright, Dumfries and Galloway
2006 - Spring Fling - Arts and Crafts Open Studio Weekend, The Smithy Studio (My work base), Tongland, Kirkcudbright, South West Scotland
2006 - The Cart Before The Horse - Exhibition of paintings, The Maxwelltown Gallery, Dumfries, Scotland
2005 - New Horizons, Tolbooth Art Centre, High Street, Kirkcudbright, South West Scotland
1998 - Oxford Summer School Tutors Show, Oxford Community School, Glanville Road, Oxford, and others, Oxford
1994 - City of Dreams, Battersea Arts Fair, Battersea, London
1987 - Untitled, Digswell Arts Trust, Welwyn Garden City, England
Workshops
2009 - Introduction to Mosaic, Pollock Halls, Edinburgh
2009 - Introduction to Mosaic, The Smithy Studio, Kirkcudbright
2008 - Life Drawing and Painting Monthly Workshops, Gracefield Arts Centre, Dumfries, Scotland
2008 - Magic Mosaics, Dumfries Museum and Camera Obscura, Dumfries, Scotland
2008 - Mosaic Workshop: Memorable Materials, Tullie House Museum and Art Gallery, Carlisle
2006 - The Art Of Mosaics -An Introduction, Tullie House, Carlisle
2005 - Drawing and Painting, The Academy, Kirkcudbright
2005 - Life Drawing and Painting, The Academy, Kirkcudbright
2005 - Life Painting and Drawing, The Smithy Studio, Tongland, Kirkcudbright
2005 - Mosaics, Higham Hall, Bassenthwaite Lake, Cockermouth, Cumbria
2005 - Mosaics, The Smithy Studio, Tongland, Kirkcudbright
2004 - Mosaics: An Introduction, Gracefield Arts Centre, Edinburgh Road, Dumfries
2002 - Life Studies, Oxford and Cherwell College, City Centre Campus, Oxpen Road, Oxford
2002 - Mosaics, Oxford Community School, Glanville Road, Oxford
2002 - Working with Water-based Paints, Oxford and Cherwell College, City Centre Campus, Oxpens Road, Oxford
2000 - Keeping a Theme Sketchbook, Wallingford School of Art and Art History, Mill Lane, Wallinford
2000 - Mosaics, Thame Community Education Centre, Towersy Road, Thame, Oxon
2000 - Mosaics, Wallingford School of Art and Art History, Mill Lane, Wallingford
1999 - The Secret World of Silhouette, Lawn Upton School, Sandford Road, Oxford
Private commissions
2009 - Fire , Private House, Kilmarnock
1998 - Seies of three acrylic paintings, Private house, Highgate - London
1998 - Series of Three Acrylic Paintings, Private venue, Highgate, London
1993 - Black and White Illustrations, 'L.L' limited edition magazine, Archway, Islington, London
1988 - Cover Illustrations, Rihard Speed Associates, Oxfordshire
Public commissions
2010 - Night Sky Mosaics, Sulwath Connections Landscape Project, New Abbey Primary School - New Abbey
2006 - New Abbey Outdoor Mosaic, New Abbey Primary School, New Abbey, Dumfries and Galloway
Competitions, prizes and awards
2007 - Art and Craft Marketing Grant, Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland
2005 - Dumfries and Galloway Craftmakers Award Scheme 2005/6, Dunfries and Galloway Council, Dumfries
1982 - Post-graduate Commonwealth Scholarship in Sculpture for India, Viswa Bharati University, Shantiniketan, West Bengal
Site specific
1982 - Untitled, Viswa Bharati University, Shantiniketan, West Bengal, India
1978 - Untitled sculpture -Open Air Exhibition, Digswell Arts Trust, Welwyn Garden City
Publications
2009 - A Timeless Partnership - Andamento research journal -
2008 - Mosaic Art Now
2006 - Mosaic Magic - article for DGB Life Magazine
2006 - Mosaic Yearbook - An International E Book of Modern Mosaics
2006 - New Abbey Wildlife Mosaic Revealed - Scottish Natural Heritage