I am a sculptor and work mainly in steel. The natural world is my inspiration for subject matter and there are themes to which I frequently return: repetitive patterns and decay, crows and herons. Birds have been a love of mine from an early age. I aim to extract the essence of a creature. I do not try to create a realistic image, but rather to capture the feeling, movements and appearance of a bird, animal or insect. A moment in time in their life.
My work evolves from figurative to abstract, often stopping somewhere in between with a pared down representation of an object where from some angles it looks abstract; from others, figurative. In my explorations for a piece, I experiment with printing – making 2d artwork using print and soldered wire.
I initially trained at a contemporary dance school, the Laban Centre. The decision to study dance rather than art was a difficult one at the time. But now, since moving over to become a visual artist, I realise the value of my dance training in the work that I do. Having been so immersed in a world of movement I subconsciously feel a movement and flow about every subject in my work. Sometimes this intention comes as a surprise to me, not realising until after I finish a work but other times I am very conscious about wanting movement to be a key element.
RECENT EXHIBITIONS/COMMISSIONS
Virtually Here – online collaboration with Waveney and Blyth arts and Paperworks
Sculpture in the Valley – Waveney and Blyth arts – postponed until 2021
Art for Cure 2020 Online
Fine not Fine Art Exhibition, 2019. Cloisters, Bury St Edmunds
Artworks 2019, Guildhall, Bury St Edmunds and Blackthorpe Barn, Rougham
Artworks 2018, Bury St Edmunds
Art for Cure 2014, 2016, 2018 Glemham Hall. Suffolk
Co-Director: Lark Valley Willow. The company makes bespoke willow products. I make all the sculptures and deliver all the workshops.
Founding member of The Making Space (2017). A community print-making group which meets twice a month in Oakes Barn Pub in Bury St Edmunds. Together with Oakes Barn we secured funding for a portable printing press for the group. The group had its first exhibition in 2019.
I am based near Bury St Edmunds in Suffolk, UK
