about the artist

My background is in textile design and embroidery which opened up a multiple of directions to go in: papermaking and an affinity with the process of constructing and manipulating the surface. After several years’ teaching, I had a fascinating period of working in arts organisations and when redundancy appeared, I seized the opportunity to return to a creative life, with paper being my artistic focus since 1983. I was a founder member of PaperWEIGHT, a National group of paper artists, which existed for twenty years and provided me with exciting exhibiting opportunities and a community of great creatives.

I learnt the nineteenth century photographic process of Cyanotype in 2000 and is the main medium on paper and textiles that I continue to explore.  I have used over 80 different plants through a (still) magical process, as dreamlike x-rays catch aspects the naked eye misses. The process has so many unexpected subtleties, the deep blue having a dream-like quality.  I add a little water colour to imply the colour seeping into or leaving the image, also gold or silver leaf as a flash to certain pieces.  As it brings together gardens and art, cyanotypes provide me with the perfect merging of the growing and artwork.

After working full-time as a gardener in private gardens for some 30 years, I have now made for space for poetry and teaching for the Wiltshire-based charity Arts Together.  I currently take part in the biennial  Wylye Valley Art Trail

I am exploring a different form of expression through paint as I desire a contrast to other work.  I only write and paint when I sense the prompt.  Painting enables me to make marks that reference forms that are recognisable but shifts them away from the representational.  The element that is present is weather.  My skies tend to build or dissipate and there is usually a way through to the horizon.

I live in Wiltshire, UK, a county containing Stonehenge, chalk down lands, big skies and ancient green ways.