If you’re here you probably want to know more about me. Here’s the short version:

I live in Porthleven,Cornwall. Inspiration comes from the land, the sea and conversations. These come together through painting, drawing and sculpture.

I coordinate and deliver public engagement projects in a variety of settings which have included: clock towers,garden sheds, schools and in fields.

Image: Robin Shelton . Time-Lapse at Royal Cornwall Museum

A little more:

The following is an extract from an interview between Maxine Greer and Liz Cooper of Design Nation. Maxine is a member of Design Nation the leading UK based portfolio for craft, design and product.

DN: Please tell us about your practice, how your business began and what inspires you?

I have always drawn. The activity of drawing excites me, the process of creating images on paper helps me to not only relax but to also formulate new ideas. Drawing is the foundation of what I do - whether directly out in the countryside or the everyday recording of moments in time: the breakfast table, a corner in a room, looking out of a window.

DN: In your work there is a very interesting mix of drawing, animation and stitched sculptural pieces such as your “Mini-Worlds”. We love the drawings in your recent “How I Met My Neighbours In Lockdown” blog post. Do you see these as separate or interrelated activities? How do they connect?

These drawn moments feed into the different projects which might end up being an installation of paper birds, intricate embroidered mini-world sculpture or an animation. I enjoy creating characters and developing a story. I see the houses as individual characters conveying a story through their windows

Mini-world sculptures speak about a fragile landscape, the changes in the seasons, the balance of nature. Installations of paper birds are of childhood memories and aim to communicate the child’s voice through the telling of stories.

I like to animate the inanimate, to bring an event or an experience to life. The daft stop-motion films I make are made sometimes over a day or two, sometimes over weeks. They intermingle with domestic life. Using materials found in the home, they are made on the fridge door, kitchen table or shelves in the spare room. They sketch out happiness, sadness and joy.

For the full interview go to : Maxine Greer at Design Nation

More About Me...

I studied at Loughborough University gaining a first class BA Hons in fine art textiles. I lectured in drawing at Edinburgh, Winchester and Birmingham Universities.  

I worked in mental health managing services for children and adolescents using arts based activities to engage vulnerable young people.

Award winner for ‘Field Margin Studies’ at Leicester City Gallery 2017 and ‘Peoples Choice Award’ at the Peterborough City Gallery for Flock Circle an installation of 200 paper sparrows. Work has featured in publications including: LandScape Magazine, Elle Decoration, Selvedge and Ghosts of Gone Birds. A member of Design Nation, UK. 

Selected Achievements

  • Award Winner: People’s Choice Award at Peterborough City Gallery for ‘Flock Circle’ an installation of 200 hand made paper sparrows as part of the Open exhibition.

  • AA2A- artist in residence at De Montfort University- 2017 – Engage member of AA2A

  • 2017 -2019 Artist in Residence Heltwate – special needs school Peterborough

  • Working with Wildlife trusts and artsNK with drawing workshops 2016 Kombisketchtour– drawing and sketching in nature, promoting observational drawing.

  • Prize winner for 'Field Margin studies' at Leicester City Gallery

  • I created the smallest cinema at the Melbourne Arts Festival, Derbyshire. On show was my short stop-motion animation “Storm In A Teacup” – this 3 minute film attracted over 700 visitors. Seating for the tiny cinema was a mere 7 with standing room allowing for maximum capacity of 12.

  • Galerie Handwerk in Munich an international showcase of makers.

  • Promoter and Coordinator of SHIFT, a group of East Midlands artists: Yarrow Gallery, Oundle. Recent show DRAW 2017 - Yarrow Gallery, Oundle.

  • Creating an installation for the ONCA gallery in Brighton which was then featured in Ghost of Gone Birds publication. I am part of an international group of artists who are concerned with conservation, ecology and the impact on nature, particularly the plight of birds. www.ghostofgonebirds.com

  • Flock selected by Liberty for ‘Liberty Selects’ window displays for ORIGIN- International Contemporary Craft and Design Fair, Spitalfields

  • ‘Peg Tango’ a stop motion film featured at the Zero Budget Film Festival in Sheffield. This short animation using peg dolls tells the story of a desire to become a synchronized swimmer.