The work I produce is the result of a long held fascination with fabrics, their touch, colour and movement, from my mothers dance dresses of the 50's to a small piece of pink rubber fabric sent to me as gift wrapping. I work in layers and usually structurally to create a 3 dimensional piece, using the layers to reveal or hide, creating secret areas, conveying a mood, telling a story, often with humour.

Qualifications
2005 OCN Train the trainer Level 3
1995-1996 City & Guilds 7307 Adult Education Teaching Certificate Parts I & II
1992-1995 B.A. (hons) Museum & Exhibition Design University of Humberside

Textile Artist
Over the past 10 years I have delivered a wide range of participatory arts projects working with all ages and abilities these have included
o Creating a large scale 3D textile banner with a group with varying levels of sight
o Working with a group of older women on a reminiscence piece depicting their families and favourite motifs
o Delivering a textile based creative project on ‘Micro-organisms’ as part of a schools PPA time, working with years 3 to 6.
o Using my own work for inspiration and sharing my own creative ways of working with years 10/11 of several local schools to design and make shoes.
o Delivering my own range of textile workshops to textile and embroidery groups throughout the UK
o Working with an after school clubs to create a musical sculpture for an external play space.
o Creating carnival costumes and large scale decoration for a carnival float.
o Working with families on inter-generational grass-roots level creative techniques to encourage working as a group.

As well as creative textile skills I also have practical stitching plus a vast knowledge of needlecrafts that are in danger of being lost to future generations. In my own practice I prefer sculptural pieces using a wide range of fabrics, wires and papers, using machine stitch, fusing, cutting away, paint and other decorative finishes to create a totally unique piece that has equal impact in passing or on close inspection.

As well as these textile skills, my work in participatory arts has given me a wide knowledge base for mixed media and both areas constantly feed into each other.
Coupled with this creative experience is a real enjoyment of sharing my creative practice with others. I have excellent social skills, a broad life experience and am committed to bringing creative practice to as broad a community as possible. Creative work is good for the soul, but can also bring communities and disparate groups together whether in a transitory share of a workshop or to create permanent artworks. I know from feedback from previous projects that I can deliver popular and relevant projects from a very diverse client group.
Other creative skills include - make scale models for stage sets and exhibitions, from technical drawing, design sheets to finished models. I have worked extensively in the production of hand and machine knitted garments, and have an extensive knowledge of knitwear pattern making and adaptation. I have excellent desk-top skills , both in admin and creative work.

My attitude to creative work is open, and I will use most any materials ( health & safety permitting) to show that creative work is accessible to all and affordable

Training
Arts marketing
Drugs Awareness - Level 1
Child Protection - Level 1
Enhanced CRB clearance
I also have my own public liability insurance and can forward my own Health and Safety Policy if requested.
Exhibitions
Festival of Quilts 2006
Knitting and Stitching 2005
Gladrags Exhibition 2005 Ropewalk Barton
Ferens Open 2005
Knitting and Stitching 2004
North East Lincs Open Studios 2004, 2005
Artlandish and Friends 2001 to 2005, Grimsby
20-21 Open exhibition 2001 and 2002, Scunthorpe
Present Exhibition 2001 and 2002, Cleethorpes
Vanguard exhibition, 2001, Grimsby
Creative Industries Showcase, 2001, Grimsby

Personal/Professional Qualities
I am an honest, outgoing, enthusiastic, trustworthy and reliable person with a very well developed sense of humour. I consider that everyone I come into contact with deserves the same level of attention and commitment, that every job is important. I take my responsibilities, deadlines, and work standards seriously, and work well in a team or own my own, and can stand back from a job and have realistic expectations. My ideal work situation is where I have my own responsibilities but these form part of a committed team.

Away from work I love to spend time with my son, my friends and my garden.