If I was a writer, hand-stitching would be my words.
I have always been fascinated by, and passionate about, the creative process and the making and assembling of artistic pieces. I completed a Fine Art degree (painting and printmaking) at Winchester College of Art, where I was lucky enough to have Gillian Ayres as my tutor. For some years after this, whilst bringing up a family, I worked in a number of different creative fields; as an art tutor in adult education, also as a facilitator and manager of large public art projects within such settings as schools and the NHS. More recently, I was Head of Art at a rural Welsh High School and acted as an art moderator for the OCR examination board. I have exhibited work in a number of shows in the UK and Europe.
Moving to France has enabled me to explore my own creativity in greater depth and to more fully develop my love of textiles. Living as I do in rural South West France, I am surrounded and inspired by the natural and architectural beauty of the region. Over the past five years my work has evolved from the painted surface into a more general interest in fibers, threads, fabrics and natural dyes. I am always trying to push my own creative boundaries, and to experiment with new ideas, methods, and combinations. I have a particular love for the re-purposing of old textiles and materials in my work.
Living in an old French farmhouse has allowed me to create a dedicated studio /workshop space. Where I regularly run textile-related workshops, we gather and work together to create a varied response to different starting points.
The peaceful rural environment of Ramon is a special place to work .
© 2020
CV
Solo Exhibitions
2017 L’Oeil de L’Aiguille - G.E.M. Monflanquin, France.
2008 Paintings and Collages - Tan-y-Llyn, Wales.
Group Exhibitions
2019-2020 Untangled Threads - Stitch Book Collective, Knitting and Stitching Exhibition Harrogate
(postponed due to Covid).
2019 Bastide Exhibition -Monflanquin - Ann Stephens and Ingrid Bell.
2018 Penne Arts - Penne d’Agenais.
2017 Thread Bearing Witness - Alice Kettle.
2017 Mixed Group - A.S.A.S.A. Presbytère , St.Avit Senieur.
2016 Mixed Fibres - Chateau Eymet.
2015 Three Artistes en Fibres - A.S.A.S.A. Presbytère , St.Avit Senieur.
2015 Tous en Bois - Phin Galerie, Villamblard.
2013 Artists in France - Hotel de Cours de Thomazeau.
1981 Stowells Trophy - Etchings - Royal Academy of Arts , London.
Talks and Workshops
Various venues around Britain and France
2015-2020 Art at Ramon - creative textile workshops.
2016 Sara Lechner - collaborative workshop.
2016 Natural Dyeing - Association Apicole de la Valle du Dropt.
2016 Silk Ribbon Embroidery - Vendredi Club.
2009-2015 Summer Thursdays - L’Ancienne École.
2014 Hanging Art - Campagnart’47.
2013 Primitive Dolls - Vendredi Club.
Commissions
2019 Private commission. "I Will Walk With You" A large commemorative fabric collage and
hand stitching.
1995 Trees, Words and Maps.
A project producing a series of wall panels for the Robert and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic
Hospital, N.H.S. Shropshire, U.K.
Filmed by the BBC as a documentary for the BBC's Countryfile.
Sponsored by Princes Trust, West Midlands Arts Shropshire Development Fund.
Collaborative Public Arts Projects
2020 'Same Sea, Different Boat Our Isolation Stories' - Collograph and Stitch collective piece resulting from the Covid-19 lockdown.
Organized by Sue Brown and Louise from 'Hope and Elvis'.
2004 Organized funding and installation of large public art piece by Gwen Heeney.
Press
2020 Feature in 'Textile Transformed' by Mandy Pattullo, Batford Publishings.
2020 'Mending Mayhem' Artist of the Month of April for Instagram.
2019 Feature Article in Quercy Local Magazine.
Education
2008-2009 City & Guilds - Stitched Textiles level 3. Oswestry College.
1989-1991 Further and Adult Education Teachers Cert. Level 1&2.
1981-1982 Art Teachers Cert. University of Sussex. PGCE.
1978-1981 B.A. Fine Art Hons. Winchester School of Art.
1977-1978 Foundation Course. Medway College of Art.
Teaching Experience
2011-2016 Teacher of Art - L’Ancienne École , Lauzun.
2011-present Various Art Workshops with adults, young people and children - Ramon, France.
2011-2019 Various Art Workshops with adults, young people and children - U.K. & France.
2003-2009 Teacher of Art and Textiles - Welshpool High School, Wales, U.K.
1993-2002 Head of Creative Arts - Llanfyllin High School, Wales, U.K.
1991-2002 Artist in Residence - various venues, U.K.
1996-2010 Art Moderator - Oxford and Cambridge exam board.