In 2009 I completed a Masters Degree in Printmaking at UWE, specialising in the Screenprint process and now work out of Spike Print Studio in Bristol. While the work I make is rooted within the Landscape tradition, the fabric textures in my prints are an echo of my families Arts and Crafts background and nomadic childhood.
I use a combination of drawing, digital photography and objects directly exposed on the screen, to create the individual layers in my prints. I enjoy the tension these different sources create in my finished work. When making a new print, I try to stay open minded about how the finished work will look, to allow the print to make itself - print is an extremely process led way of making art and allowing the unexpected to happen and taking advantage of these happy accidents allows the work to stay fresh and exciting. I love the drama of proofing a print; when suddenly everything comes together with the final layer of ink - and the print starts to sing.
I have recently exhibited at the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition, The Woolwich Contemporary Print Fair and The Mall Gallery in London, The Victoria Art Gallery in Bath and Spike Island in Bristol. My prints are also available through selected galleries in Bristol, Bath and London, as well as other towns in the South West .
EDUCATION
2009 M.A. Multi-Disciplinary Printmaking, UWE, BRISTOL
2006 H.N.C Art and Design, Bristol School of Art, BRISTOL
2004 Diploma in Foundation Studies, Fine Art, Bristol School of Art, BRISTOL
1995 P.G.C.E Primary Education, UWE, BRISTOL
1984 Bachelor of Social Sciences Double Honours Degree, Geography and Sociology, Keele University, STAFFORDSHIRE
How I became in artist
I did not develop a passion for print making until my late thirties, though I have always enjoyed making things and been ‘good with my hands’. Artist is my third career!
Following my first degree, I joined Laura Ashley as a retail management trainee and ran the Bristol, Clifton branch until the birth of my first child. Laura Ashley was a wonderfully creative company to work for and I learnt a lot about style, fashion (of the flowery puffed sleeve variety), art history and interior design, while I worked there.
I then re-trained as an Early Years Teacher and, contrary that I am, spent several years teaching part-time in a secondary school. During this time I was also learning about art through various classes and part-time art courses. Initially I drew and painted at evening classes as something to do for myself, away from my two young children.
Once my children had started school, I began to study art during the day, initially with an Art Foundation course at the Bristol School of Art. This was a great all-round introduction to the various media artists work with. I can remember being told we were not there to polish our stones, but to explore as many different media and techniques as possible. At that time, Bristol School of Art offered all their students free, optional life drawing classes and these were invaluable for honing our observation and drawing skills.
This led naturally to an HNC where I was introduced to a variety of different print making techniques, such as cyanotype, screenprint and woodcut processes. My great grandfather’s sister was a successful artists who made woodcut prints in Sweden and, influenced by her, I gravitated towards the woodcut process. Things just clicked with print, I loved working with these processes.
On completion of the HNC, I moved on to do an MA in print. UWE’s Multi-disciplinary Printmaking Masters Degree was exactly what it said on the tin; a sweet shop of new printmaking confections that we were introduced to each week. At times this was incredibly frustrating, as we had so little time to explore each process. However, I loved the alchemy of Lithography and using oil based inks with this process. sadly there are no lithographic presses in the Bristol area outside of UWE, so I switched my focus to Screenprint. I loved the way you could screenprint with anything fine enough to push through the mesh on a screen and on to any substrate. with screenprint I could print dyes on fabric, glazes and oxides on ceramics and of course, acrylic inks on a variety of papers. I have even printed digital images of the floating harbour with the mud from the river Avon.
Finally, I found Spike Print Studio. Joining initially as a student, I am now a key-holder member and haven’t looked back since. I have a studio in my home where I prepare and store my work and print at Spike, using their specialist printing equipment. My practice as an artist involves lots of the skills that I developed in my other professions; interacting with the public and potential customers; dealing with admin, record keeping and accounts; developing good working relationships with galleries, stockists and suppliers; organising sales and their follow up.