Concepts, Ideas, Themes

My work is an expression of my way of life and relates to woman’s generally undervalued home-making skills of embroidery, patchwork, dressmaking, cooking, gardening and interior decoration. It is based on detailed drawings of my surroundings without colour notation. I like to remember colours, sometimes interpreting the scene in different lights and colours experienced during the drawing process. I am objective and inclusive, not romantic. My paintings are mostly based on drawings made of my cottage, my beloved garden, the Suffolk countryside and while travelling, visiting friends or abroad on holiday.

Processes and Techniques

My work is collage. I use ‘6 sheet’ acid-free mounting board backed with brown paper as a balancing veneer as the base. I generally use Ingres watercolour paper in various colours as the medium, with the occasional use of handmade Japanese paper and even sometimes silver foil.

To ensure permanent colour I paint the Ingres paper with artists’ watercolours, white designers’ gouache, and, sometimes, coloured inks to create the palette. I then cut the papers in the shapes I want, building up from broad abstractions to intricately cut detail in many layers. I fix the papers to the board using an acid-free heavy-duty adhesive. I have been working like this for thirty years. After initial, very early problems, and except for some fading due to work being exposed continuously to bright sunlight, I have not had any failures.

Career Path

I trained at Southampton and Kingston Schools of Art, where I obtained the National Design Diploma. I have been a regular exhibitor at the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition, and in 1983 won an award for my work with paper.

I normally exhibit several times during the year, mostly mixed, but sometimes one man shows in London and Suffolk. I am a member of ‘Artworks’ and ‘Suffolk Open Studios’. I have written a book on paper collage for ‘Search Press’, write regularly for ‘The Artist’ and ‘Leisure Painter’, and have demonstrated collage on television.

I attended an ‘Artist in Education’ course funded by Essex County Council and now carry out collage projects with children in primary schools. recently I carried out a lottery funded maze project with the villagers of Southolt and Worlingworth in Suffolk, and have also designed the Worlingworth village sign and millennium bench seat.