I am a mixed media artist and poet.
My visual work is most recently focused on stitch and paint. I enjoy a variety of craft skills, working with natural dyes, spinning, knitting and doll creature design.
I create intricate embroidery artworks, using free motion machine stitch. Often small in scale, my work is inspired by a love of art history and folk art. Influences include the 'outsider artist' Madge Gill, who created detailed, patterned ink drawings. Just as Madge Gill worked intuitively, so I use my sewing machine as a drawing tool, to explore an everlasting world of organic movement, figures and gazing faces.
My painting and sketching informs my stitch work and allows me to explore ideas using a different set of tools and dynamics. Paintings are about mark making, expression and pattern. Just as with embroidery, I use improvisation and work intuitively. I see my paintings as visual poems, hints toward stories to be told.
In recent years my writing has become more experimental - I write both poetry and short fiction. I'm these days more interested in the playfulness of language and meaning, and like to explore nature language, art making and history, nostalgia and women's lives.
I received an Eric Gregory award from the Society of Authors in 1996. Most recently poems have been featured in The Rialto
Born in London 1969.
English and Art BA hons - Brunel
MA Creative Writing - Bath Spa
