I originally trained (more years ago than I care to remember !) in embroidery and design at Loughborough College of Art
and Design and in adult teaching at Nottingham University, and subsequently
specialised in silk painting with embroidery.
I have taught in local educational authority classes, in residential
colleges, and have run my own specialist Silk Painting and Projects Studio
since 1985.
I am invited to display work, give demonstrations, and run workshops
at upto half a dozen retail shows country-wide each year. My work has been
featured on BBC television and I have been filmed on Granada Sky
satellite TV, The Discovery Channel, and Ideal World TV.
In 1987, when material in English on silk painting was a little thin on the
ground I produced a Silk Painting teaching video, and whilst living in
China (1988 to 1990) I was appointed guest professor for silk painting
projects for the Shanghai Arts and Crafts Research Institute.
Over the past ten years I have been commissioned to write numerous
articles for art and arts & crafts magazines and have been featured in
various articles written by others.
Recent work has included painting dance costumes for an international
dancewear company and giving product and process training to distributor
sales representatives and retail shop staff on behalf of a leading French
silk dye manufacturer and a German silk importer.
Autumn 1998 saw an exhibition of my work at Foyles Art Gallery in London
and in the same year I was heavily involved in writing the syllabus for
the City and Guilds Creative Skills Certificate for Silk Painting.
I am currently both Secretary and Events Organiser for the Guild of
Silk Painters, I teach silk painting and project classes in various
locations, City & Guilds 7822 at Inkberrow Design Centre,
Worcestershire, and occasionally (time permitting) I work on
commissioned pieces.