At six years old I was given a copy of Hans Christian Anderson’s Fairy Tales, a lovely edition illustrated by Rex Whistler. The intense black and white wood engravings had a profound effect, giving me a visual language to express myself and influencing both the art I admire and my own choice of subject and medium. I still return to the images and my childhood memories spring to mind in the style of the book – brightly lit, sharply focused, enclosed by deep darkness. My childhood was spent in a very rural part of Gloucestershire, the village surrounded by the beautiful flood meadows of the river Severn, there was no electricity so darkness for me was very real and very dark. Many of my prints are in black and white and some of my work is in book form.
I love the practical process of printmaking and find there is always a technique perfect for the idea I want to express. In 2000 I studied for a degree in Fine Art at Oxford Brookes University, learning about many media but returning to printmaking as my favourite.
My work, an altered book and prints, has been chosen as part of Strange Worlds: The Vision of Angela Carter at the Royal West of England Academy in December 2016 celebrating the life and work of the writer. The exhibition is co-curated by Dr Marie Mulvey-Roberts and Fiona Robinson MA RWA
I will be part of ‘Illuminating the discarded library’ an exhibition of altered books to be exhibited at Christchurch College Rare Books Library in Oxford in 2017
My work has been selected for exhibitions in Europe, the US and Japan, I’ve had work selected for the annual exhibitions of the Society of Wood Engravers www.woodengravers.co.uk
Here are some of the places I’ve exhibited my prints and books:
2010
Spike Island Artists Book Exhibition Bristol
Stowe House Exhibition
Milton Keynes Open Studios
GPC Small Print Exhibition Stroud Gloucestershire
A4 International Contemporary Print Exhibition Falmouth
MK Printmakers Group Show Barn Gallery artworks-mk
AIM Gallery Central Milton Keynes
Dragon Gallery Buckingham
2011
Society of Wood Engravers 74th Annual Exhibition
A4 Printmakers Exhibition, Falmouth
Print! The Exchange Gallery. Penzance Cornwall
The Sewell Centre Gallery Radley College
Barn Gallery, Milton Keynes
Central Milton Keynes Exhibition Space
Church of Christ Cornerstone – MK Printmakers Christmas Exhibition
AIM Gallery. Milton Keynes
Artlink Gallery Hull
2012
Society of Wood Engravers 74th Annual Exhibition
Artlink Gallery Hull
Barn Gallery Great Linford MK
Luton Hoo Walled Garden Exhibition
Society of Wood Engravers 75th Annual Exhibition
20:20 Print Exchange – Red Hot Press Salford
Radley Winter Show
2013
Soc. of Wood Engravers Annual Exhibition Bankside Gallery London, Oxford, Thirsk
RCA Secrets
Shoosmiths Prize Exhibition Milton Keynes April-September
Waddesdon Manor Artists and Makers Fair May and October
Shoosmiths Solicitors Milton Keynes
Obsidian Gallery Aylesbury
MK Printmakers Open Day November
20:20 Print Exchange Red Hot Press Salford, Bolton, Liverpool, Edinburgh, Wakefield.
Winter Show SewellCentreGallery RadleyCollege Oxford. Oct/Nov.
Christmas Exhibition Milton Keynes Arts Centre Barn Gallery MK
2014
‘Limited Editions’ Exhibtions Michael Heseltine Gallery Chenderit
Southbank Printmakers Gallery Gabriel’s Wharf London April/May
Market Place Gallery Olney Bucks www.marketplacegallery.co.uk
MK Printmakers South Pavilion MK Arts Centre Gt Linford June
20:20 Print Exchange Hot Bed Press Salford
http://www.hotbedpress.org/exhibitions/2020-print-exchange/
International Mokuhanga Conference Tokyo Artists’ Book Exhibition
http://arts.brookes.ac.uk/news/items/051114-international-symposium-mokuhanga.html
2015
The Market Place Gallery Olney Bucks www.marketplacegallery.co.uk
RCA Secrets Exhibition http://london.secret.rca.ac.uk/2015/
Center for Contemporary Prints USA http://contemprints.org/
Art at 88 in Berkhamsted htpp://www.artat88.co.uk
Wood End Gallery Pertenhall Beds http://www.tabwood.co.uk
20:20 Print Exchange http://www.hotbedpress.org/exhibitions/2020-print-exchange/
2016
RCA Secrets Exhibition
20:20 Print Exchange with Upstart Press
Strange Worlds: The vision Of Angela Carter Royal West of England Academy Bristol
Market Place Gallery Olney Bucks
Wood End Gallery Pertenhall Beds