Born in Devon, UK in 1970, I studied Visual Studies and Publishing as an honours degree at Oxford Polytechnic between 1988-1991 where I was taught and mentored by Ivor Robinson MBE, Chairman of the Visual Studies Field degree. The Visual Studies elements combined the disciplines of painting, drawing, 3D studies, printmaking, animation, photography, graphics, typographics and bookworks, and was the first course of its kind in Britain.
Prior to becoming a full time artist in 2003, I was fortunate to enjoy a fulfilling and varied career in a number of non-arts related, and client facing roles.
I am an active member of The Dorset Salon, a selected fine art membership group that encourages critical debate and enjoys a culture of discussion and shared experience.
As well as undertaking commission work, I have exhibited drawings, paintings and monotypes in joint and group exhibitions for a number of years where the works have been traditionally framed and hung on walls. More recently I have been exploring projection, sound and 3D formats for drawings and paintings, as well as researching how changing the way my work is presented and challenging convention alters the audience experience.
Working with Dorset AONB, The Arts Development Company and Dorset History Centre, I have delivered large scale drawing and painting projects as part of the dementia friendly Stepping into Nature programme that aims to connect people with nature through creative engagement. As artist in residence in Horatio's Garden at Salisbury NHS Spinal Unit, I have continued my interest in the health and wellbeing benefits of combining art with nature by engaging patients, visitors and staff in drawing outdoors. Ambition and scale need not be compromised by individual physical ability, and through adapting: materials; mark making method and forming collaboration, patients with significant spinal cord injury demonstrated great courage and determination, creating drawings over 5 metres long.
My collaboration with Dr Anna Biley relating to grief, loss and art has recently been presented at conferences in Brighton and New York and published in A Handbook for Caring Science: Expanding the Paradigm by Springer Publishing.
I have also worked in partnership with Dorset Wildlife Trust to create images across their product range, and Oxfam have used my images for their greetings cards. Bridgeman image library license my work which has been featured in publications worldwide.
I live and work in Dorset, United Kingdom.