ABOUT ME
My inspiration is taken from people, objects, belongings and memorabilia that surround us every day. As an avid collector and self confessed hoarder of mundane and quirky items, I assemble my treasures into still life photographs a form of visual story telling. My earlier work used traditional photography practices; however majority of my current work has been photographed digitally. I endeavour to re-present these items and paraphernalia to inspire the viewer and myself as an artist. The composition, arrangement and layout of my 'collections' are uncluttered and often direct. Simplistic lighting and balance are fundamental with each collection. I like the viewer to be challenged on many levels - nostalgia, aesthetic or simply by a personal association of such curiosities. I like to evoke an emotion by producing bizarre collections so the images form a contemporary archive. In addition to still-life work, portraiture is also used to communicate, connect and explore who we are.
Exhibitions & Publications
RECENT & HIGHLIGHTS:
2020 - LoosenArt - International group exhibition Instability and Precariousness curated by LoosenArt2020
(Millepiani Rome)
2020- The South West Collective - Short List - The Pandemic In Pictures Prize Shortlist (selected work shortlisted)
2020 - Artists Responding to...The Post Card Project ( Selected work included in publication)
2020 - Rankin2020 - Shortlisted/Published image from part of the Rankin2020 series on Sky Arts (Profits from the book will be donated to Mental Health UK (Expected Nov 2020)
2020 - PMN (Magazine) Selected Artist Issue 1 'Embodiment'
2020 - L.O.V.E ART Selected Artist 2020
2020- Newwalk and Museum Art Gallery - Open 31 selected work.
2020 - Inspired by Lockdown - (Sept-Dec) Selected pieces projected in Leicester Newwalk museum and art gallery Victorian Gallery and in virtual exhibition 'reflecting 'lockdown 2020'
2020 - Short listed in CUPOTY (close up photographer of the year) - Manmade Category
2020 - Selected images on the 'Sock Gallery' Virtual Exhibition on instagram
2020 - Flea Circus Magazine Contributor - First Edition Selected Artist (Printed volume due Aug/Sept 2020)
2020 - Nottinghamshire Wildlife trust - POSTCARD SHOW (planned for 2021)
2020 - Selected - Saatchi 'selected' Favourites (#FoodArt) '#SaatchiTakeOver' (instagram)
2020 - Art-Hole-Magazine (a-hole) - Volume 1 -Selected artist
2020 - The CLUNKER - 2020 line up (postponed due to CV19)
2020 - Dot-Dot-Dash - SURFACE GALLERY Nottingham
2020 Public Source - PS contributor - covoid 19 archive covid19.publicsource.xyz
2020 - Pretext: The Mask We Wear - (Selected Works included) The Hidden Half and Concealment of Self) a visual and contextual response exhibited at Curve (Leicester), as part of the wraparound activities connected to DMU Pride Festival 2020 and Andrew Lloyd-Webber & Cameron Mackintosh’s sell-out production of Phantom of the Opera. The festival is curated by DMU students - Feb 18th 2020 - March 14th 2020
2019 - Dangerous Pockets Project - A community art collaboration - Inspired by a poem 'Dangerous Coats' by Sharon Owens. Facilitated by artist Paula MacGregor
2019 - Open 30 - New Walk Museum (15th Dec - Jan 25th 2020)
2019 - L.O.V.E Art - LOVEArt the Leicester Open Variant Exhibition CURVE Leicester Monday the 14th of October - 24th November 2019
2019 - 100 ARTISTS POP UP SHOW LEICESTER - DIY GALLERY & Art At The Chapel
2018 - The Cank Street Gallery Show Case Leicester JUNE - AUGUST selected work from unnecessary-usage
2017 Selected images for: artonapostcard
2017 - Work selected for 'Open 28'
work
2017 - Selected works at 'Cank Street Gallery' Leicester Open
2017 - Selected image for ' Magnum Swap Show' @ Print Space London June 2017
2016 - POINTS OF DEPARTURE - Leila Houston, James Chantry & Members of Silver Vine Arts
2016 - Open 27 (New Walk Museum) leicester
2015 - Silver Vine Arts - Summer Trail Exhibitor August 22nd - 31st / Former Existence Images on display at Queen Of Bradgate 97 High Street Leicester LE1 4JB
2014 - PH21 - Body Exhibition
2014 - Photoplace Gallery (Middlebury, VT USA) - The Traces Left Behind - Butter, Bleach and Banana's - Selected work
(http://www.vtphotoworkplace.com)
2014 - Cank Street Gallery, Leicester (http://www.cankstreetgallery.co.uk)
2014 - Foto39 - Selected Work (http://www.foto39.org)
2013 - Sandergram / Leicester People's Photography Gallery - Grandma's Shears
2009 - LCB Depot, View From This Side, Leicester (solo show)
2009 - Disappearing Traditions - Peeple Centre, Leicester, (International Womens Week Festival)
2008 - Lost and Found - City Gallery Open, Leicester
2000 - Selected works at the International Photography Exhibition, Atelier de maintenance, Arles, France
1992 - The Picture House Leicester - Museums in Motion Exhibition
1991-2012 Art works selected for The City Gallery Open - Granby Street and Newwalk museum, Leicester
