About

Ideally I would be a nomad, I’m never entirely settled. For me, painting is also a journey, an iterative process linking hand, eye and brain, to uncover an answer when I’m not totally  aware of the question. Each picture is part of a long conversation, building a visual story over time.

Born in Lancashire, I studied painting, sculpture and textiles in Blackpool, Manchester and Bristol, graduating with BA (Hons) Fine Art in 1978.  I hold a PG Dip Youth and Community Work and an MEd Community Education from the University of Edinburgh. Until 2016 I  combined my  work as a visual artist with teaching and working in socially engaged, participatory arts.  I’m primarily an abstract painter however my work is grounded in traditional observational research - drawing, photography, collecting and an issue or idea I wish to explore.  After an exhibition hiatus I’ve enjoyed developing my practice to include setting up an artists collective, joining professional artist associations, showing my work, taking up more residency opportunities, curating and writing about abstract art.  In 2021 my small work Oakberries #2 was chosen for the SSA annual and favourably mentioned by critic   Barry Mc Glashan in his Scotsman review  https://www.scotsman.com/arts-and-culture/art/art-reviews-ssa-annual-exhibition-barry-mcglashan-3447469

Working with people - developing arts projects, leading workshops and courses, for 20 years has been fascinating and fulfilling.  Perhaps, the highlight of this  came as I led a  project to design, fund raise and build an aspirational arts centre in Edinburgh https://northedinburgharts.co.uk/  

Exhibitions

Society of Scottish Artists small works open  2022/23

Christmas Exhibition Edinburgh Palette 2022

Multifaceted, Edinburgh Palette 2022

Paper, Granton Hub Edinburgh 2022

Inception, Dalkeith Palace Lothian 2022

Awakenings, Edinburgh 2022

Christmas Exhibition Edinburgh Palette 2021

Society of Scottish Artists, Annual Exhibition 2021/22

DUst Bannockburn House, Stirling 2021

Advancing the Abstract, Edinburgh 2021

Visual Arts Scotland Annual exhibition FLOW 2020/21

Beaverhall Studios Edinburgh, Open Studios 

2012

Grampian Arts Association, Open Exhibition 1987

ContemporaryTextile Arts, North West Arts Council, Gawthorpe Hall, Padiham 1986

The Miners Strike Collaborative Abbot Hall Kendal 1984

Woman's Art Alliance, London 1980

Work in private collections

Residencies

Dianola: Exploring Identity through Visual Art EU Socrates Programme 1995 ongoing 

Abstractionistas Drawing Residency, Gight, Aberdeenshire  October 2022

Community Arts Projects

Action Factory Blackburn Lancashire: community art projects 1992-94

Rural Community Arts Lancashire: Common Ground Community Maps 1993-94

Triangle Arts Centre: Festival Theatre,Scottish Opera,  community opera 1996

North Edinburgh Arts building project:client representative, development worker and artist 1995-2001