Totemic healing votives, icons, art dolls, books, bundles & boxes, responding to stories, life experiences & real and imagined journeys.
An offering, a memory bundle to mark the sudden and unexpected passing of my oldest friend to acknowledge her mindful and creative life, spirit, generosity and deeply caring nature. The making a meditation on loss and a remembering of all our shared life experiences. Wrapping, stitching, bundling, using gifted textiles and objects from here and there, including an angel, tiny hippo and a bunch of knitting needles. Exhibited at the RWA Bristol as part of the Artist Network Group show.
A unique one off assemblage, curious collection of treasures, less than perfect figurines, stuff from travels, gifting of fabrics from India & offerings, bits and bobs from who knows where, balanced within a gifted vintage paint box. Inspired by a love of altars, shrines, votives and the notion of life journeys. Enjoying making tiny worry tokens and prayer dolls or, for loved ones and on commission, to support through life’s challenges. 20 H cm x 35W x 20 H cm. POA
Totemic storytelling art doll, mixed media, hand and machine stitched textiles & found objects, unframed. This two sided character is inspired by my sister who loved to stitch, on the reverse it is me, a collector of stories . 80 cm H x 50 cm W x 10 cm D. £ POA
Totemic offering / story dolls, bundles of mixed media with found upon this and that, treasures and curiosities. 80 x 45 x 10 cm, presented mounted on oak plinth.
Travelling altar - a collection of journal, offering dolls, findings and giftings, created for Curious Narratives, Artist in Residence, Lacock Abbey, National Trust, 2016, Arts Council England funded. NFS.
A much loved small hand stitched art doll, created from deconstructing elements of vintage doll & doll’s house parts, to create a woman who travelled with her world under her skirt. Of course, she would have her children, a tiny cup, maybe a thread to find her way home. £ SOLD.
Watercolour and wax crayons drawing inspired by the notion of the Sybils, mythological women storytellers, who were the keepers of the stories. What is going on here -there are three women, one of whom is a headless mermaid? 80 x 60 cm £875.
Collage inspired by photographs of mother and aunt transformed into inky drawing or is it a painting and memories of living near the sea. 47 x 57 x 3 cm £675. Selected for Royal West of England Academy Autumn Open Exhibition 2023.
Ink drawing on clay board selected by Alison Bevan, RWA Director for the Discerning Eye exhibition, Mall Galleries, London. SOLD.
A love of the Sybils, mythological women storytellers, his collage of a woman underground, is created from elements of collagraph prints, machine and hand stitched, 69 cm W x 61 cm H x 3 cm D. Monoprint & collagraph, & stitch collage. Framed £1,400. Inspired by a true account of a neolithic woman found buried on a moor, having journeyed from northern climes, and the findings that were discovered with her. I liked the idea that she had collected stories along the way, and the notion in storytelling of the wonder ball, a thread that weaves through a narrative, so I thought to give her one in order she could find her way back home one day.
Monoprint, framed 51 cm H x 44 cm W x 3 cm D, from a series of 14 prints, also featured in a small poetry chapbook, God's Baby, in collaboration with poet Hilda Sheehan. Framed £520
https://hildasheehanpoetry.blogspot.co.uk
The process of journaling can promote well-being, transformation and inspiration. Interested in personal documentary, and the process of self reflection, a journal can become our companion, the layered pages allows us a personal, unique storytelling space, in which to draw and write insights, thoughts, reflections and documented response to ourselves, people and place, life events, experiences and journeys. The freedom in which to work within the pages, inspires other creative forms of expression and endless ideas, potential and possibilities.
Creative Journaling workshops allow us to explore this process with others in order to unlock inspiration, insight, personal/professional development and mindful creative direction, in setting of artist's studio, gallery, museum or your own home. No experience required, just an openness to explore drawing, writing, painting, stitching & collage.
An experienced, relaxed, inspirational and fun tutor.
AL, Bristol.
I have really enjoyed and appreciated the time I’ve spent with you and hope to use journalling in ways I hadn’t thought could be so helpful. It seems to have coincided with a particularly challenging time in my life, and for that I’m grateful.
LM, Wiltshire
I had forgotten how much fun and good humour you bring to your work.
PF, Somerset
I am still on cloud nine after my mentoring sessions, still lots to assimilate, but the process has given me new focus.
AML, Swindon
Thank you for helping me create my mum’s special birthday memory book, I didn’t know where to start!
JS, Bristol
To find out more how this creative process can unlock potential, do contact me directly!
Visual Journaling Workshop RWA Drawing School, Bristol. An opportunity to explore personal stories and transform into unique and totally individual journals. This workshop we explored life journeys and events using photographs, old drawings, found text, maps, etc to create new narratives. Next workshop Memory Books Bundles. https://rwa.org.uk
A journey of memory and thought, time away at Cornish on the edge of the sea retreat. An annual pilgrimage with friends to a hideaway place. Playing with photographs from childhood, other projects, found stuff, watercolours and writing. Stitching this and that together, to unfold in a landscape of just being.
A quest to Northern Italy, in search of The Sybils, mythological women storytellers. The journey inspired by being awarded a travel bursary for Dreaming & Stitching, a storytelling multi-media textile book, exhibited at Drawn, RWA, Bristol.
100 Promises and a search for a Lost Princess, inspired by a drawing group sketchbook tour to India, with Rabley Drawing School. The handmade journal stuffed full with writings, findings, and observations.
Time out for Mindfulness practice, two Artists' on a journey around Japan. Observations, writings, drawings, collections and offerings from here and there, inspired by city & rural landscapes, wash houses, sacred shrines, temples and Buddhist mountain retreat enclaves.
