I have a B.A in Fine Art and Ceramics and have continued to develop my ideas and methods since I left Art School in the 80's. This in turn lead me to research the history, techniques and art of papier-mâché. I paint and also make - vessels, objet d'art, jewellery, tutorials and videos. I especially enjoy taking an era from history and delving into it's past whilst making . For example - a series
of papier-mâché bowls, plaques, platters or a collection of jewellery based on say - the pottery shards of past civilizations - Ancient Egyptian faience, aged Roman iridescent glass, faded frescoes from Pompeii, the moods of the Arcades of Paris, the colours in Venetian glass, the distressed paintwork on French and Cornish fishing boats or the ever-changing atmospheres of Devon valleys and moorland where I live. This process inevitably leads me to look at details and at fragments. This is also a way of focusing, of understanding, of slowing down and realizing that information is frequently gathered in fragments from which we construct our personal view of the world we live in. We develop our imagination by use and creativity is the close companion and gift of the imagination - collective and personal. I love the world I've created - it involves many things now and I'm daily surprised and delighted by the new fragments of understanding that I actively seek out or that come my way by chance and I'm pleased to report that as a consequence I am never bored. I like to research, travel, paint, take photographs, write and make - I think, along with many others, rather beautiful & very unique kinds of jewellery. These are sometimes made from fragments of my paintings or constructions of fine white papier-mâché paste, scorched and gilded or fragments of 18th century clay pipe stems (to***co) and pearls etc, etc. They're all my talismans from traveling in this world or that of my imagination. Sometimes my daughter accompanies me and we work together on projects. I use a combination of papier-mâché - mixed media - gesso - resin - beeswax - gold & silver leaf & found objects. And often though not always - lots of colour - intense and subdued. I've also been writing for most of my life, poems and fiction plus travel writing. I'm constantly learning about the tools of the internet and ways of reaching out to people. Life - finding the whole process fascinating. I also like to support people and in turn I truly appreciate the sense of joy that comes with being supported financially by people who love what I make and share.
