Whilst I have always had an interest in Art, I came to it more seriously later in life. Having spent thirty years in the NHS as a clinician and in management, the time had come to pursue my creative interests.
Initially enrolling at Malvern School of Art for their Fine Art and Contemporary Craft degree programme, I went on to study for my BA (Hons) Fine Art at Hereford College of Art. I was lucky enough to be given the Sidney Nolan Trust Award on graduation and a residency at The Rodd in 2021. Last year saw me return to Hereford College of Arts for my MA in Fine Art.
The last two years have seen my Fine Art practice developing in new ways. My work still has a narrative to it, although this is now more concerned with inter-human relationships, sometimes informed by my NHS or personal experiences. Much of my work is now 3D and most recently I have been working in aluminium. My Fine Art practice has never been constrained by particular materials but rather led by the theme and what it is that I am trying to convey. My practice is wide ranging in terms of materiality and could cover anything form text works, to paint, print, sculpture and anything else fitting that I might encounter!
Last year saw me researching Trauma Theory and the nature of traumatic witnessing. Working alongside staff from Addenbrookes Hospital in Cambridge, I have been examining what healthcare professionals have been working through during the pandemic; the nature of their experiences and how they process them. This links to my time spent working with patients during the AIDS epidemic in 1980s London. This work commenced as text accounts and finished as large metal sculptures, which were shown at Canwood last summer. They sought to capture the repetitious and disrupting nature of traumatic memories.
Alongside this more serious work runs a more light hearted practice covering a wide range of processes both 2D and 3D. They often depict either representational animals or buildings or are of a more fantastical nature. All of which are designed to bring a smile to the looker.
The best part of Open Studios to me is the opportunity to talk to others about my work, their work and all things arty!