about

My work is inspired by place, memory and experience.

Growing up in Cornwall, the seaside has been a continued inspiration for my work, the wide spaces of the sea's horizon and the Cornish countryside are reflected in my open and balanced compositions.

I loved writing in notebooks as a child, my mum often making shopping lists for me in exercise books sticking in the labels of baked bean, tomato tins and pasta packets so i could help find items on the weekly shopping trip. Therefore the idea of saving (maybe even hording) interesting things, paper treasures, attached to memories of place and people became a habit, i kept scrapbooks of every family holiday and school trip, retaining the smallest ticket or sugar wrapper in volumes of books.

Also a product of a Laura Ashley and William Morris decorated home has infused my work with a love of floral imagery whether upholstery, clothing or wallpaper. The garden and all its wonders has also provided huge scope for my work, building secret dens, planting mini gardens in seed trays, and making rose petal perfume to sell to the neighbours were all part of my weekends and summer holidays.

Now my daily entries in my Journals and Sketchbooks provide the inspiration for my textile illustrations, moved by places, memories and personal stories. My work has been described as visually seductive, drawing the viewer into the many layers of text and image choosing to embellish them further with tactile elements such as sequins, buttons, lace, tickets, stamps and postcards that have all been lovingly collected.

Im visually excited by the compositional arrangement between patterns and textures, images and text, colours and mark making (by stitch or ink) and paper and textiles. I try a make sure that a visually interesting image (photograph or drawing) provides the focal point in each work i make, relating to the written descriptions and experience.

Since graduating in 2005 from the University College Falmouth with an Ma in Authorial Practice: Illustration, I have worked as a part time art technician in a local school and have become a member of the Kensey Art Group, and Hidden Art Cornwall. I continue to love making work living in my Cottage beside the sea.