My work is a personal abstract vision based on an exploration of contrasts specifically in texture and colour,
working with edges and their juxtaposition, creating a visual rhythm within a balanced compositon.

Currently I am dealing with repetition and working with
the constraints of the grid, stripe and check - trying to do much with little, constantly looking to play with subtleties of colouration and textural relationships.
Recent travel to India, North and West Africa where I have been enamored by the pattern and colour in everyday life has had an impact on my senses, and I have specifically looked to the textiles of these areas for inspiration.

My methodology is one of mixed media, using a variety of materials that sit between the two disciplines of painting and textiles, ranging from acrylic or oil paint to collage with found/hand dyed fabrics and stitch.

CV

EDUCATION / QUALIFICATIONS
1981-84: B.A.(Hons) Fine Art– Leeds Polytechnic
1984-85 HND Surface Pattern design - Jacob Kramer College of art and design
1995-96: M.A. Art and Design – Leeds Metropolitan University
AWARDS/PRIZES
1998 First timers award – Chelsea Crafts Fair. 1997 B.T./South Yorkshire Artist of the year. (1st prize winner).
2001 East England Arts award Y.O.T.A. Residency at The Norfolk Museum of Rural Life, Gressenhall.
2003 Suffolfk County Council professional development award
RESIDENCIES
1993/94 Banner making residency - Sheffield Children's Festival. 1994 Artist in residence at Halifax Piece Hall Gallery. 1995-96 Artistic consultantcy for Ambry Heritage Group. (Public Arts, Wakefield). 1996 Artist in Residence, York City Art Gallery. 1999-03 Visual Arts Worker, N. & W.Norfolk. ( 5 community arts parish map projects)
2001 Year of the artist residency,Norfolk Museum of Rural Life, Gressenhall. 2002 3 week residency at Cill Riallaig Artists’ Retreat, Ballinskelligs, Co.Kerry, Eire.
VOLUNTARY WORK
2005 Working for International Service(York GB) on ‘Coaching for Hope” - An Art andFootball project for aids orphans in Burkina Faso and Mali.
COMMISSIONS
1986 Painted/embroidered panel for dental reception area – Ripon, N.Yorks,1987 Batik Pieces for Branston School and Community College, Lincoln.1988 4 Panel Batik – Oakwell Hall, Visitors Centre, Batley,W,Yorks, 1993 Large Banner for Leeds Centenary Exhibition.1993 Banner for Highfield Library, Sheffield. 2001 Diptych panel for The Norfolk Museum of Rural Life, Gressenhall. 2004 Image for Jarrolds Calender ‘Inspirations’ 2006 Painted Banners for The Isle of Wight Pop Festival.
SOLO SHOWS
1985 University College – Scarborough
1996 Brahm Gallery – Leeds
2000 Swan House, Beccles, Suffolk.
2001 Norfolk Museum of Rural life, ‘Through the Looking Glass’
SELECTED GROUP SHOWS
1987/8 Chelsea Crafts Fair
1989 Ruskin Gallery, Sheffield – ‘Threads of Silk’ / Art For Interiors – Wandsworth, London.
1991 The Crescent Art Gallery – Scarborough
1992 Wakefield City Art Gallery / Dean Clough Galleries – Halifax
1993 Leeds University Parkinson Gallery – ‘Centenary Show’
1994 Leeds City Art Gallery – ‘Leeds Open’ / Piece Hall Art Gallery, Halifax, - 'Your Heart in a Box'
1995 The Black Swan Gallery – Frome, Somerset, ‘Modern Icons’ / The Piece Hall Gallery – Halifax ‘Material World’/ Cooper Gallery – Barnsley, ‘B.T. South Yorkshire Artists Show’ / The Elizabethan Gallery – Wakefield, ‘Glad Rags’
1997 York City Art Gallery – ‘Textiles North’
1998-99 Elm Hill Contemporary Art – Norwich, ‘Opening show’ / Atrium Gallery, KPMG – London, Museum of Women’s Art.
1998-00 Worcester City Art Gallery - 'Disembodied', New Fibre Arts Show / Oceanside Museum of Art, California, USA - 'Atmosphere',
2000 Headstreet Gallery,Essex
2001 Newport Gallery, Wales -'Atmosphere', New Fibre Arts Show / Rural Arts East Touring Show 2001, 'Lifelines' Rural Norfolk venues
2002 The Brewhouse Gallery, Somerset. 'Atmosphere' / New Fibre Arts Show Grapevine Gallery, Norwich
2003 ‘Space and Light’ Salthouse Church,Norfolk / The Red Gallery, Thame, Bucks / The School House Gallery, Wighton N.Norfolk / Grapevine Gallery, Norwich.
2004 School House Gallery, Wighton N.Norfolk / Jarrold’s Mill, Norwich / Fringe Festival - Bally Shoe factory, Norwich / North House Gallery, Essex / Grapevine Gallery. Norwich / The Old Workshop Gallery, Corpusty, Norfolk / Salthouse Church N.Norfolk
2006 Grapevine Gallery Norwich / North House Gallery, Manningtree, Essex.
2007 North House Gallery, Grapevine Gallery, Norwich
2008 The School House Gallery, Norfolk
EMPLOYMENT
1988-96 Full time lecturer in art and design – Wakefield College
1996-99 FT Lecturer in art and design - Norwich City College (NCC)
1999-03 70% proportiona Lecturer- City Coll. / Visual Arts Co-ordinator, Creative Arts East.
2004/5 Workshop tutor/ leader residential arts centre, Limoges, France
2005 onwards Freelance artist
REVIEWS / CATALOGUES
Crafts Magazine 1988,1993,1997 / House and Garden 1988, 1989 / Leeds Centenary Ex. Cat. 1993 /Leeds Art Fair 1994,1995,1996 / Arts East 1999, 2000, 2002 / EDP,1999, 2000, 2001,2003,2004 / TV Review, ‘The Ticket’, May 2001