ABOUT THE ARTIST
I am an artist inspired by the natural world. After 25 years of being Head of the Art Department in Crofton School, Stubbington, I took early retirement in order to pursue my passion of making art. Felt Painting is a unique technique that I discovered through my interests in felt making, and has now become my signature style and most recognisable works. The 'Ammonite Series', are my first series of Felt Paintings; the soft and delicate material of merino wool has been cleverly manipulated to resemble the hard, detailed rocky surface of ammonite swirls. This illusion makes it initially difficult to tell the media used, only being revealed upon a closer inspection of the work. I also have a large portfolio of other mixed media works from over my teaching years. Techniques such as; printing, painting, ceramics, drawing, sculpture and mixed media. My versatile practice revolves around the natural world and my love for the outdoors and environmental conservation.
I run regular art workshops for all ages and abilities from home and at other locations on request, and cover subjects such as: felt painting, felting, still life drawing, collage, clay and others. I also exhibit my work around Hampshire and I'm currently expanding the reach of my work beyond my home county.
ARTIST CV
Education
1993 - 1994
Post Graduate in Teaching Art
1985 - 1988
BA (Hons) Ceramics and Glass Degree
Exhibitions
Group
2020
2020
2019
2019
2019
2018
Plastic Free Shop, Warsash
Pop-Up Exhibition. Artists Inspired By Nature, Locks Heath Centre
Nicky Heard, Wickham Art Fair
Artists Inspired by Nature, Hampshire Open Studios
Turning the Tide, Explosions Museum Gosport
Ammonite Series, Fareham Public Library
2020
2020
Southern Nature Art Exhibition, Online. WINNER OF PUBLIC VOTE.
Hampshire Open Studios, Studio Address.
TEACHER
1994-2019
Head of Art Department at Crofton Secondary School for 25 years. Taught 11-16 year olds KS3 and GCSE classes.
ARTIST
TEACHER
2019-
Retired in 2019 to become a full time felt painting artist after spending a year developing the technique and studying the art of textiles and fibres.
2019-
Run felt painting classes and workshops from home in my art cabin for any age or skill set.
I work from my art cabin in my back garden at home. I set up the space with my wools, canvases and equipment, and from then it's been my art studio. I am lucky to have a space in which I can make large works - slowly my pieces have got bigger and bigger in size which has been an exciting process for me to develop and expand my practice.
This is also the space where I run my classes and workshops. It will fit a maximum of 8 people, and means that it will be small, personal classes with plenty of 1:1 tuition.
