ABOUT
DRAWING
I work outdoors making plein air studies of the land working almost exclusively across the
unique landscape of the south Wales valleys where I live. I prefer wet and windy weather and I was artist in residence & 'Windy Draws' community art workshop leader at the Pen y Cymoedd Wind Energy Site, Rhigos Mountain. I am committed to developing creative opportunities for young people - particularly participatory projects working outdoors.
I created WORKERS GALLERY in 2014 with my husband. This exhibition & studio space embodies my belief that being creative and experiencing art can inspire positive cultural and social change. It shows work by artists from across the UK, holds social arts events and community arts workshops. The gallery is part of a vibrant valleys community, where artists are workers & art practice, appreciation and play have the potential for truly sustainable regeneration.
BACKGROUND
I was born in Birmingham & 'bred' in Dudley.
After studying Fine Art at Exeter College of Art I developed my own upholstery & furniture design business in the late 90s, expanding into arts-in-community & theatre design.
An AHRC scholarship in 2002 allowed me to study full time as a furniture designer at MA level. I specialised in commemorative design & on graduation I worked as a research assistant & part-time tutor of drawing, whilst developing my own commemoration-focused research.
In 2009 I settled close to where my welsh ancestors once lived in Wales. I feel profoundly connected to my welsh heritage and the valleys landscape.
RESEARCH
I have a PhD from UCLan & the International Football Institute (the research arm of the National Football Museum). My academic research considers the commemoration of my ancestor Duncan Edwards. He was a Busby Babe, Manchester United & England football player who died after being injured in the 1958 Munich Air Disaster.
I am in the developmental stages of a new research project investigating the commemoration of loss in the landscape.
