Artist’s Statement
I am inspired by the changes that the seasons bring to the natural world and am particularly interested in the variations in the landscape that are evident towards the end of the year. The process of decay and the effect it has on the ‘treasures’ which I discover on my walks in the Sussex countryside and along its coastline is often what drives me to make a visual record of what I see: an ageing leaf which falls to the ground on an autumn’s day, seaweed washed up on the seashore or the fragile remains of a moth found on a window-sill.
These small, ephemeral details in the landscape, that for many go unobserved, are what inspire me to paint and draw. What catches my eye initially reveals itself to the full as I undertake to observe and record it at close quarters. Through the process of depicting such an object in my art, I feel that I gain a greater knowledge and appreciation of it.
Although I enjoy working in a variety of media I consider myself to be a painter first and foremost. Working mainly in oils, I enjoy its versatility, applying it thickly straight from the tube as well as using it to produce fine detail with the smallest paintbrush available. The surface quality of my pictures is often textural, inspired by patterns in nature such as tree bark and rock strata and achieved through ‘playing’ with mark-making.
I use antiquarian book covers, endpapers and pages for the backgrounds of some of my pictures, enjoying the patina of age which they have acquired and finding their fragility and beauty appropriate to my subject matter.
Education and Qualifications
Foundation Art course.
B.A. degree in Graphic Design, specialising in Illustration.
Post-Graduate Certificate in Education.
Experience
I have been involved in a variety of work which combine my qualifications and reflect my interest in Art and Education. This includes:
- teaching and co-ordinating Art in primary and middle schools;
- developing policy and writing Schemes of Work for Art;
- leading art workshops and training days in schools and day centres;
- organising a number of exhibitions of children’s art work in public spaces;
- co-ordinating a series of artist-led workshops involving young people, working both in the classroom environment and in gallery space;
- participation in a consultation group working on developing an education pack for a gallery;
- employment as advisory teacher in projects hosted by an art gallery, which have brought together creative practitioners and teachers to develop a series of activities inspired by the gallery or one of its exhibitions, where creativity is used to enrich and enhance learning in different areas of the curriculum.
Throughout all of these experiences I have worked with children and adults of all abilities and ages.
Exhibitions
For more detailed information about exhibitions and events, past and present, please visit my News pages.
Selected Exhibitions:
Rye Society of Artists Summer Exhibition, 2015;
Rye Society of Artists Summer Exhibition, 2014;
Summer Exhibition, Royal Academy of Arts, London 2013;
The South East Summer Exhibition, The Grand Hotel, Folkestone 2011;
Wrexham International Print show 2007;
Chichester Open Arts Festival 2006.
2017:
The Affordable Art Fair, Hampstead, London with Four Square Fine Art;
Summer Exhibition, Byard Art, Cambridge;
Contributor to the Moth Migration Project organised by Hilary Lorenz, Albuquerque in New Mexico;
2016:
London Art Fair, Islington Design and Business Centre, London with Four Square Fine Art;
The Affordable Art Fair, Hampstead, London with Four Square Fine Art;
Summer Exhibition, Byard Art in Cambridge;
The Affordable Art Fair, Stockholm, Sweden with Four Square Fine Art;
The Affordable Art Fair, Battersea, London with Avery Contemporary Art;
Donation of artwork to the Alexandra Park Glasshouse Group, Hastings;
‘Christmas Cracker’ Exhibition, Byard Art in Cambridge.
2015:
Mixed Gallery Exhibition, Byard Art, Cambridge;
Donation of artwork to Hastings Arts Forum Fundraiser Auction;
Works on Paper Art Fair, The Science Museum, London with Byard Art;
‘Dwell’, a Collect Connect Project with artwork exhibited in various locations in London;
Affordable Art Fair, New York, America with Byard Art;
‘Into the Woods’, a group exhibition at Wing Gallery, Wadhurst;
20/ 21 International Art Fair, The Royal College of Art, London with Four Square Fine Art;
Affordable Art Fair, Hampstead in London with Hybrid Gallery;
Summer Exhibition, Byard Art, Cambridge;
Rye Society of Artists Summer Exhibition;
Affordable Art Fair, Stockholm in Sweden with Four Square Fine Arts;
Affordable Art Fair, Battersea, London with Avery Contemporary Art;
‘Natural Histories’, a group exhibition curated by Four Square Fine Arts, Clerkenwell Gallery, London;
‘Christmas Cracker’ Byard Art, Cambridge;
‘Small Wonders’ Four Square Fine Arts;
2014:
Donation of artwork to Hastings Arts Forum Fundraiser Auction;
‘Once Upon a Book’ exhibition, Byard Art, Cambridge;
The Affordable Art Fair, New York, America with Byard Art;
The Affordable Art Fair, Hampstead, London with Hybrid Gallery;
Summer Exhibition, Byard Art, Cambridge;
Rye Society of Artists Summer Exhibition;
Joint exhibition with Alvaro Petritoli, Keizer Frames at Pastorale Antiques, Lewes;
The Affordable Art Fair, Bristol with Hybrid Gallery;
The Affordable Art Fair, Battersea, London with Byard Art;
‘Wonderland’, Hybrid Gallery in Honiton;
Christmas Show, Wing Gallery, Wadhurst;
Poppinghole Christmas Fair, Robertsbridge. An event fundraising for the Multiple Sclerosis Society;
Christmas Exhibition, Avocet Gallery and Tearooms, Rye Harbour;
‘Christmas Cracker’, Byard Art in Cambridge;
‘Unwrapped’, a SOCO exhibition at The stables, Hastings;
’12:14′, Lucy Bell Fine Art Photography, St. Leonards-on-Sea.
2013:
‘Moths Settle Amongst Antiques’ exhibition at Patrick Robbins Interiors, St. Leonards-on-Sea;
Spring show at West End House Gallery, Smarden;
‘Tender- From a Different Place’ at Gallery Different, Fitzrovia, London;
‘Create, Make, Bake’ at The George, Rye. An event in aid of St. Michael’s Hospice;
‘Create, Make, Bake’ at The Bell, Ticehurst. An event in aid of St. Michael’s Hospice;
Wildlife show at Avocet Gallery and Tearooms, Rye Harbour;
Vintage Fayre, St. Michael’s Hospice, St. Leonards-on-Sea;
Sussex Festival of Nature, Brighton;
Summer Exhibition, Royal Academy of Arts, London 2013;
Summer show at West End House Gallery, Smarden;
Artwave 2013, Alexis Dove Jewellery shop, Lewes;
Contributor to ‘Sparrow Stories’, a project by textile artist, Anne Kelly in association with the R.S.P.B.
Post a Postcard, Kave Gallery, St. Leonards-onSea. An exhibition in aid of The Association of Carers;
Coastal Currents Open Studios, Stable Studios, Fairlight;
Moths settle at Warp and Weft Styling, Hastings Old Town;
The Affordable Art Fair, Battersea in London with Byard Art Gallery;
Twenty Years of Byard Art, Cambridge;
Christmas show at West End House Gallery, Smarden, Kent;
Snow Time exhibition at Hybrid Gallery in Honiton, Devon;
Christmas Cracker exhibition at Byard Art, Cambridge;
Red, a So.Co. exhibition at Trinity Gallery, Hastings;
Christmas exhibition at the Art Barn in Wartling, East Sussex;
Philippines Typhoon Haiyan Fundraiser Art Sale, St. Leonards-on-Sea.
2012:
Hastings Arts Forum Members’ show, St. Leonards-on-Sea;
‘Making Waves’ So.Co. exhibition at Stade Hall, Hastings;
‘Gallery in the Glasshouse’ at The Walled Nursery, Hawkhurst;
Wildlife exhibition at Avocet Gallery and Tearoom, Rye Harbour;
‘Moth Pictures on Antiquarian Books’ The Imaginarium, Hastings;
Summer exhibition at First Sight Gallery, Hastings;
Donation of a jigsaw puzzle piece with one of my drawings on it now incorporated into the fabric of a boat sailing around the south coast of Britain. The Boat Project is by Lone Twin and forms part of the Cultural Olympiad;
‘The Glory of the Garden’ Hastings Arts Forum.
‘Towards the Downs’ Avocet Gallery and Tearoom, Rye Harbour.
Collect Connect- Bird Magnet street exhibition. Part of the E17 Art Trail;
Christmas Show at the Dark Horse Gallery, Mayfield;
Cranbrook Art Show;
Freed Book event, Collect Connect. Part of London Book Week;
‘Maximum Width’ So.Co. group exhibition, Trinity Gallery, Hastings;
‘Creative Christmas’ Hastings Arts Forum;
Christmas exhibition at Avocet Gallery and Tearoom, Rye Harbour;
Winter exhibition at First Sight Gallery, Hastings.
2011:
Arts Forum Fund-raising auction (painting donated), St. Leonards-on-Sea;
Arts Forum Members’ show;
Donation of an illustrated wooden jigsaw puzzle piece to The Boat Project and subsequent feature on South East Today local news television programme;
‘Jack in the Green’ exhibition, Arts Forum;
Open House sale of artwork, St. Leonards-on-Sea;
Work selected by Fred Cummins R.A. for The South East Summer Exhibition, The Grand Hotel, Folkestone;
Rarities Magnet event, Hastings Pier;
Deckchair exhibition, Sussex Coast College;
SoCo Members’ show, ‘Pocket companions’, The Pier Shop at Arthur Greens, Hastings;
Artists’ Books exhibition at The Muse, St. Leonards-on-Sea;
Display of book art with Lynne Bingham, The Pier Shop at Arthur Greens, Hastings;
‘Creative Christmas 2011’ Group show at the Arts forum, St.Leonards-on-Sea.
2008:
SoCo Members’ show, ‘Shadow Lands’, The Arts Forum, St. Leonards-on-Sea;
Arts Forum Members’ show;
South East Open Studios.
2007:
SoCo Members’ show, ‘New Works’, The Beacon, Hastings;
‘Mellow’, a joint exhibition with Alvaro Petritoli, Todds Gallery, Hastings;
Arts Forum Members’ show;
Work selected for the Wrexham International Print Show.
2006:
Work selected for the Chichester Open Arts Festival;
Arts Forum Members’ show;
Coastal Currents Taster exhibition;
Coastal Currents Open Studios.
2005:
End of Year show, Stables Theatre, Hastings;
Tsunami Appeal Auction and sale of Art, SoCo at St. Mary-in-the-Castle;
Christmas Open Studio;
Coastal Currents Open Studio;
Print Makers show, Cranbrook.
