About + CV

Bio:

Originally trained in Theatre Design, Nottingham (1995). Returned to college, studying MA Textile Practice, Manchester School of Art (2018). Regularly exhibiting both textile wall art and mixed media sculptures in open calls, member exhibitions and as an invited artist. Member of Prism Textiles, Neo Artists, Immaterial Collective and Design Nation.

Winner AWOL/Comme Ca Open (2022), Second place Sustainability First Art Award (2021), Shortlist Fine Art Textile Award (2020), Shortlist Castlefield Gallery Award, Manchester Open (2024). Created series of 11 sculptures as commission for Fylde Council (2022). Featured in “Mixed Media Textile Art in Three Dimensions” by Ann Goddard, Batsford Books (2022) and Embroidery Magazine (Jan/Feb 2024).

Experienced workshop facilitator ranging from drop ins or single sessions to projects that develop over several weeks or even months using a range of visual arts but with a general focus of sustainability and wellbeing using recycled materials as much as possible.

Artist statement:

I explore environmental issues like climate crisis, plastic pollution and waste through textile art using recycled materials, particularly old clothing, and mixed-media sculptures of textiles and concrete* cast in the plastic packaging that we use and discard on a daily basis. I aim to make people consider the world around them and their responsibility to the environment. My work explores juxtapositions of structure, texture and colour, particularly where nature meets man. The concrete captures the embossed patterns, logos, codes etc of the plastics representing the presence and actions of man and giving a weight more in-line with its legacy. The naturally inspired textures of the textiles emphasise the way our waste becomes subsumed into the environment but also how nature fights back.

How I Make My Work:

My signature textiles are made using a combination of embellishing and embroidery. The process is quite painterly. First I block in main shapes then work back in with highlights, low lights and details. The embellisher blends the different fabrics together to create subtle variations in texture and tone to mimic lichens and moss. The recurring shell motif is formed using a combination of machine and hand embroidery.

To create my sculptures, I stitch my textiles inside the waste plastic and cast true to life pieces with concrete*. My method results in a distinct contrast between the manmade structure of the packaging and the soft natural textures and a real sense of growth that would not be achieved if I attached the textiles after the casting process.

I started with litter and household plastic packaging mainly from food which was easy to cast inside. As my work with waste has expanded through both personal interests and as a result of commissions, I have had to develop methods to work with or represent the waste that I can’t cast inside but still want that contrast of materials to tell the story. Sometimes I dip the waste itself like the discarded clothing, others I make a facsimile of the waste particularly unsafe litter like covid masks, sanitary towels and wet wipes.

*I am aware of the environmental issues regarding the cement industry but I am making an effort to use more and more recycled materials as the aggregate in the concrete (for the most recent casts I used egg-boxes to form a papercrete) and in using concrete, I am able to cast in the plastic without consuming additional power and materials making moulds. I continue to keep an eye out for possible new bio concretes being developed.

training

  • MA Textiles in Practice, Manchester School of Art, 2016-18 
  • BA(Hons) Theatre Design, Nottingham Trent University, 1992-95
  • Foundation Diploma in Art & Design, Nottingham Trent University, 1991-92
  • Arts Award Adviser training, Bronze & Silver (2011) + Discover & Explore (2014)
  • Safeguarding for Vulnerable Adults (2024)

publications

  • Concrete Realities, Embroidery Magazine Jan/Feb24 (2024) Cooper,L.
  • Mixed Media Textiles in Three Dimensions (2022) Goddard, A. Batsford Books.
  • 5 Mixed Media Textile Artists (2022), TextileArtist.org (online)
  • In The Studio With… (2021), The Art PA (online)
  • Exploring Artist Practice Through a Global Pandemic (2021) Dispensary Gallery.
  • aAh! Magazine, Food issue (2020), edited by Nathalie Carragher
  • Festival of Quilts Magazine (2020)
  • There’s No Place Like Home (2020) edited by Charlotte Rudd
  • Envision Arts Magazine vol.3 (2020) edited by Cochran, G.
  • Anthropocene (2108) edited by Hodgson, E.

talks

  • Friday Feature Artist (2023) Fibre Arts Take Two online interview.
  • Threads of Conscious Creation (2023) Alarcao, J, Insights of an Eco Artist Podcast.
  • Spark #8, Plastic Oceans (2023), Oldham Gallery, Manchester.
  • Show, See, Say (2019), Castlefield Gallery, Manchester.
  • Guest Speaker (2019), Chelford & North Cheshire Embroiderers Guild, Chelford.

awards

  • Shortlist, Castlefield Gallery award, Manchester Open (2024)
  • People’s Choice, Landscapes exhibition, Open Gallery (2022)
  • Comme Ca x AWOL Open, winner (2022)
  • Sustainability First Art Prize, second place (2021)
  • Juror’s Choice, Castle Park Arts Open. (2020)
  • Shortlist for Vlieseline Fine Art Textile Award (2020)
  • Runner Up (artists) OT Creative Lockdown prize (2020)
  • Best in Show, Terra & Tide group online exhibition curated by Envision Arts (2019)

exhibitions

2024

  • What is Precious? Design Nation Sustainable craft showcase, GNCCF, Victoria Baths, Manchester
  • Coastal Dreams & Woodland Walks, double window solo exhibition, New Mills Art Trail
  • Open 24, selected group exhibition, Tarpey Gallery, Doncaster
  • Open at Atelier by the Sea, curated by Tutton & Young, Brighton
  • O-P-E-N, Neo Artists at Rogue Project Space, Manchester.
  • Craft Open 2024, showing new Woodland Walks collection, Platform Gallery, Clitheroe
  • The Sea, selected group exhibition, Fronteer Gallery, Sheffield
  • Edgelands, Prism Contemporary Textiles Collective, Art Pavilion, Mile End, London.
  • Miniatures Revisited, group exhibition, Cupola Contemporary Gallery, Sheffield.
  • Manchester Open 2024, juried group exhibition, HOME, Manchester. (shortlist for Castlefield Gallery Award)
  • Unravelled, ArtCan textiles exhibition curated by Cat Sweet & Mel Jordan, RuptureXibit & Landmark Arts centre.
  • Winter Open, juried group exhibition, Royal Cambrian Academy (Highly commended)
  • Sounds of a Town, group exhibition, Wayfarer, Manchester.

2023

  • Winter Open, juried group exhibition, Inch Arts, Altrincham (Highly commended)
  • Bury Open, juried group exhibition, Bury Art Gallery and Museum, Greater Manchester.
  • Artist Interventions in a Time of Crisis, Spark Artists Network, Rogue Project Space, Manchester.
  • Manchester Art Fair Fringe, group exhibition, Comme Ca gallery, Manchester.
  • Women’s Open, group exhibition, Artizan gallery, Torquay.
  • Sustainable makers, Design Nation stand, Decorex International, Olympia, London.
  • Design Nation showcase, Platform gallery, Clitheroe.
  • Manchester Made, juried group exhibition, Waterside Arts, Sale, Manchester.
  • A Generous Space 3, Artist Support Pledge, Huddersfield Art Gallery.
  • Warped, Prism Contemporary Textiles Collective, Art Pavilion, Mile End, London.
  • In Manchester, Cotton On Mcr Open, juried group exhibition, Saul Hay gallery, Manchester.
  • Climate Matters, curated by Jackie Sewell, The Bridge Gallery, Tynemouth Metro Station.
  • Climate. Emergency. Hope. Group exhibition curated by young people, Turnpike Gallery, Leigh.
  • Nature’s Endurance, group exhibition curated by Sammi Lukic-Scott, Artworks, Halifax.

2022

  • Artist of the Month, Buy The Kilo, Tynemouth.
  • Warrington Contemporary Arts Festival Open 2022, juried group exhibition, Warrington Museum & Art Gallery.
  • Landscape, selected group exhibition, Open Gallery, Halifax. (winner public choice award)
  • Design Nation Graduate Showcase, Heart Gallery, Hebden Bridge.
  • Beyond Landscapes, group exhibition curated by Cotton On Creative, Saul Hay gallery, Manchester.
  • In Manchester, Cotton On Mcr Open, juried group exhibition, 100 Barbirolli Sq, Manchester.
  • Comme Ca x AWOL Open shortlist, juried group exhibition, Comme Ca Gallery, AWOL Studios, Manchester.
  • Fifty Bees 5, group exhibition of commissioned work, selected by Lydia Needle, ACE Arts, Somerton.
  • Untold, Prism Contemporary Textiles Collective, Art Pavilion, Mile End, London.

2021

  • In Search of Possibilities, Prism Contemporary Textiles Collective, Art Pavilion, Mile End, London.
  • In The Open, selected group exhibition, Ryedale Folk Museum & Art Gallery.
  • Small World, commissioned artist, New Mills Arts Festival, Derbyshire.
  • Lost and Found, selected online group exhibition, Vacant Museum.
  • Cupola 30, group exhibition curated by Graham Shapley, Cupola Gallery, Sheffield.
  • Vlieseline Fine Art Textile Award 2020 shortlist, Festival of Quilts, NEC, Birmingham.
  • English Riviera Summer Open, group exhibition, curated by Julie and Jacob Brandon, Artizan Gallery, Torquay.
  • Outside In, online group exhibition, curated by Roisin Delaney.
  • Leeds Summer Open, online group exhibition, curated by Courtney Spencer.
  • Associates in Lockdown, group exhibition of Arc Centre associate artists, Art Steps virtual gallery.
  • In Manchester, Cotton On Manchester Open, Saul Hay gallery, Manchester.
  • Resolution, Technically Brilliant gallery, Warrington.
  • Small Works, Artizan gallery, Torquay.
  • Tracks and Traces, Air Gallery, selected group exhibition, Art Steps virtual gallery.
  • Fragments, Pragmata Collective, online exhibition.
  • Dispose to Reuse, Eco Aware art gallery, online exhibition.

2020

  • Haus a Rest, Issue 8 – Environment, online selected exhibition curated by Jenna Fox.
  • Castle Park Arts Open, selected group exhibition, Castle Park Arts Centre, Frodsham. (Juror’s Choice award)
  • Warrington Open, juried group exhibition curated by Marie Jones, Warrington Museum & Art Gallery.
  • The Litter You Leave, Chorlton Virtual Arts Festival, Art Steps virtual gallery.
  • Vlieseline Fine Art Textile Award shortlist, Festival of Quilts (online 2020)
  • So Why Not Do It Again, group online exhibition curated by Cultivate gallery
  • Covent-19, online group exhibition, curated by Faryl Arif & Nadin Hassan
  • Threaded II, group online exhibition of fine art fibre art curated by Envision Arts.
  • In Search of (im)Possibilities, Prism Contemporary Textiles Collective, online due to lockdown.
  • T is for Textiles, invited exhibition curated by John Stokes, Rheged Gallery, Penrith.
  • The Future is…, selected group exhibition curated by Convenience Gallery at Bloom Building, Birkenhead.
  • 2020 Vision, selected group exhibition curated by Technically Brilliant, Warrington.
  • Manchester Open 2020, selected group exhibition curated by Bren O’Callaghan, HOME, Manchester.
  • Depictions of Living, group exhibition of work exploring climate issues curated by Samuel Ivan Roberts and Roshanak (Roshi) Khakban. Art Pavilion, Mile End, London
  • Staging Places, SBTD exhibition, V&A Museum, London (extended from 2019). Exhibition transferred to National Centre for Craft & Design, Sleaford.

2019

  • Waste of Our World, group exhibition of environmental art curated by Rathbone studios & gallery, Birkenhead.
  • Fragility, group exhibition by PrismContemporary Textiles Collective, Hoxton Arches, London and RBSA, Birmingham.
  • Bankley Open 2019, selected by Bankley Studios & Gallery, Manchester.
  • Beached, Art in Windows, 5 Bold Place, Liverpool.
  • Buy Better, Buy The Kilo, Tynemouth.
  • Terra & Tide group online exhibition curated by Envision Arts. Winner of Best in Show.
  • Staging Places, SBTD exhibition, V&A Museum, London
  • Micro, a group exhibition of pieces under 20 x 20 x20cm curated by AIR Gallery, Altrincham.
  • Here & Now, a group exhibition of contemporary jewellery curated by Marketplace Studios, Stockport.

2018

  • Thoughtful Planet 2, group exhibition of environmental art curated by Thought Foundation, Birtley.
  • Brownfield Research Centre, group exhibition, Airspace Gallery, Stoke.
  • London Road Project, group exhibition responding to London Road Fire Station, Plant Noma, Manchester.
  • Thresholds: The Adjacent Possible, group exhibition curated by Not Just Collective, Tapestry, Liverpool.
  • Time, exhibition of textiles & photography with Simone Frater-Russell, Arc centre, Stockport.

2017

  • Blowing a Gail, group exhibition curated by Womanstanley, Old Town House, Warrington.
  • Loss/Inheritance , group exhibition including workshop exploring ageing, Manchester Craft Centre.
  • WORK:REST:PLAY, group exhibition, Marketplace Studios, Stockport.
  • Make Anything, Manchester Makers Collective, Fred Aldous window, Manchester.
  • Over The Kitchen Table, Mothers Who Make pop-up exhibition, PUSH Festival, HOME, Manchester.
  • 2016-22 : Make collection, Manchester Makers Collective commission, The Study, Manchester Museum.
  • 2016 : Colour Pop, Manchester Makers Collective, Royal Exchange Craft Centre, Manchester.
  • 2015 : Make/Believe, SBTD exhibition, Nottingham Trent University.
  • 2011 : Transformation & Revelation, SBTD exhibition, Welsh College of Speech & Drama, Cardiff.
  • 2007 : Collaborators, SBTD exhibition, Nottingham Trent University.
  • 2003 : 2D>3D, SBTD exhibition, Millennium Galleries, Sheffield. (also on education team)

public art

  • 2019: Five Ways to Wellbeing, series of textile banners for Beacon Counselling designed through workshops.
  • 2018: Affirmations, installation for live art piece by Proud & Loud Arts, Manchester Art Gallery plus tour.-
  • 2013: Seasons, relief mural, Lever Gardens sheltered housing scheme, Bolton@Home.
  • 2011: Zany/Calm, Textile banners for session rooms, designed through workshops, 42nd Street, Manchester.
  • 2004: Happy Times, Painted Mural, Miles Platting Library, Groundwork.
  • 2004: Happy 21st, Birthday Cake sculpture, Opening ceremony, Pittenweem Arts Festival.
  • 2002: Christmas Installations, textiles & lanterns, Pyramid Centre, Warrington.

community exhibitions – lead artist/design mentor

  • 2022 Views of Stalybridge, installation of textile art made in schools, Civic Hall, Stalybridge.
  • 2021 Lost Words Bolton, workshops creating collaborative quilt, Breightmet Library.
  • 2016/17:   Cells, live art pieces exploring disability & stigma, Proud & Loud Arts, Manchester Art Gallery plus tour.
  • 2014:   Water Music project, public art with schools, inspired by Bridgewater Canal, Bridgewater Hall, Manchester.
  • 2012:   Seasonal Hymns textile art collection, Text into Textile project, Salvation Army church, Bolton South.
  • 2011:   Home, collection of birdhouses by community groups, opening of new 42nd Street building, Manchester.
  • 2008:   Ruth, dolls exploring identity made with women of non-British origin, Waterside Arts Centre, Manchester.

workshops

Workshops for all ages in wide range of visual arts – textile art, banner making, sewing skills, theatre design, prop making, costumes, masks, puppets, carnival arts, sculpture. Companies/projects include Leftcoast, Bolton@Home, Bridgewater Hall, CAMHS, ARC Centre, Creative Curve, Manchester Council, Salford Council, Teach UK, Groundwork, Rainbow Haven, Alpha Plus, MAP, Creative Partnerships, Manchester PRU, Halle, Society British Theatre Designers, Warrington Borough Council, Bolton Lads & Girls Club & various primary & secondary schools.

Design in community theatre & video projects for Proud & Loud, DIY Theatre Company, Contact Young Actors Company, Aqueous Humour, Activ8, M6 Theatre, Burnley Youth Theatre, Box of Frogs, High Peak Arts and TIPP.

Please contact for full Community & Education CV.

References are available upon request.