Community, collaboration, education

Alongside creative expression; community, collaboration and education have always been at my core.

Following on from my graphic design and illustration degree I trained and then worked in community art project management with a pioneering community arts organisation, crafting and leading dozens of workshops in numerous mediums, with people of all ages and cultures, across the community. It was a fantastic, connective experience - reinforcing my community values and fuelling my creative spark. Some projects culminated in permanent features and structures within the built environment, exhibitions, photography and film - others were just for the moment.

I’ve also had the privilege of working for a number of years, supporting learners in a secondary school special needs department - a joyful, challenging, greatly enriching experience.

Within the school environment creative opportunities arose; from building displays, to leading creative workshops, training staff and students in design software, a magazine project with a student press team, an illuminated shadow puppet project, through to a range of design jobs; educational resources, 3d installations, interactive displays, newsletters, handbooks, leaflets, posters and a library signage project.

I’ve always found joy in time alone - shutting the studio door, getting immersed in my creative work. But life has also shown me how powerful and enriching collaboration can be. Connecting creatively has the power to be truly transformational, for ourselves, and for our community.