What is it about your making skill that makes you enjoy it so much?
The simplicity of using my hands to make, experimenting with materials and working with different tools continues to bring new challenges which drives me to find solutions. This is the enjoyment.
What does it mean to you personally and the way you live your life?
This year, 2022 marks 30 years of my practice, during this time I have exhibited my work in the UK and abroad, worked in the Arts with all ages, abilities and community settings, completed many residencies in a number of countries, met so many fascinating people along the way and feel my life is so much richer (rich in culture but by no means in money) for this.
What has been your greatest making achievement?
Just a few of many achievements -
- When my work speaks for itself and opportunities have happened by people responding to my work.
- On a visit to Tate Modern with my Mum and 2 year old nephew at that time. We turned a corner in a gallery and I said to my Mum, that’s my work there. It was an enlarge copy of a page in my sketchbook. I returned home and showed them the original sketchbook page we had just seen a copy of in the gallery.
- Exhibiting my stained glass work with other stained glass artists in the south of France and staying in the house Matisse own towards the end of his life.
- Spending a summer, working on and assisting my friend Hana Baronova on her commission making a 4.5 metre high stained glass corner window for a church in the Czech Republic.
- Completing all my studies in Art & Education (Middx), Art Therapy (Herts) and Contemporary Textiles (Shetland) when I never thought I would go to university.
What is your favourite piece of equipment and why?
The definition of equipment is the ‘necessary items for a particular purpose’, it has to be my hands. I love working with my hands.
What is your favourite making website or blog and why?
There are so many to name but time on websites, blogs and social media is less time making.
What is your advice to a complete beginner who wants to have a go at your craft?
Just go for it! Do not judge or think too much about it and lower your expectations – play! We take tiny steps before we walk, we walked before we run.
