My artistic practice is concerned with researching and observing birds; assembling a sense of them and their habits over the year by building up an image that gives an essence of the bird without being a full representation. I work with acrylic paints and inks on canvas and paper, as well as using digital printing to produce small artists books. I use silhouettes to simplify images so I can focus on shape and negative space. For some birds i'm more concerned with the story behind the work, for others the importance is an artistic investigation of composition and negative space.
Exhibitions
2009 Creative Visions of Nature - Scottish Seabird Centre, North Berwick.
2009 11th International Contemporary Artists' Book Fair - University of Leeds.
2008 Sheffield Artist's Book Prize - Bank Street Arts, Sheffield,
2008 Aberfeldy Artist's Book Festival - Temple Gallery, Aberfeldy.
2008 Artists Book Show - Owl and Lion Gallery, Edinburgh.
2008 VAS - Royal Scottish Academy, Edinburgh.
2008 'Genus' - West Street Arts, Penicuik.
2008 'Diorama' - The Embassy, Edinburgh
2008 RSA student exhibition - Royal Scottish Academy, Edinburgh
2008 'REVEAL 2008" - Edinburgh Printmakers Workshop, Edinburgh.
2007 'OPEN' - Corn Exchange Gallery, Leith, Edinburgh
2006 'Porn, Prawn. Pawn' - Edinburgh College of Art
2006 RSA student exhibition - Royal Scottish Academy, Edinburgh
2005 '//07' - Attic Salt Gallery, Edinburgh 2005 RSA student exhibition - Royal Scottish Academy, Edinburgh
Commissions
2009 "Morus Bassinus" installation commissioned by The Scottish Seabird Centre for the "Creative Visions of Nature" exhibition as part of the John Muir Odyssey Homecoming Festival.
Education and Career
2011 Lead visual artist - Midlothian Games for Scotland dance & visual arts project.
2009 Lead visual artist - Collaborative art project funded by Midlothian Council and SAC, using artist's books to produce a nature guide to a local walk with pupils at a Primary School.
2008-9 Lead visual artist - Collaborative art project funded by the Scottish Seabird Centre and a primary school, using artist's book to present artwork for a John Muir Award.
2005-08 Masters of Fine Art - Edinburgh College of Art
2001-05 BA (Hons) Painting - Edinburgh College of Art
2000-01 Foundation in Art and Design awarded with Distinction - Leith School of Art
2000 Travelling and trekking - India and Nepal
1996-2000 Lecturer - Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh
1997-09 Volunteer Youth Worker and Management Committee - Venture Scotland
1997 Voluntary Youth Worker - Romanian Challenge Camp
1993-96 Research Fellow - University of Aberdeen
1994-95 Postgraduate Diploma in Health Economics - University of Tromsø
1992-93 Research Assistant - University of Stirling
1987-92 MPhil Health Economics & BA(Hons) Banking, Insurance and Finance - University of Wales, Bangor
Awards and Prizes
2006 Daler Rowney Prize, Edinburgh College of Art
2005 Andrew Grant Bequest Prize, Edinburgh College of Art
2002 Andrew Grant Bequest Award Travel Scholarship, Edinburgh College of Art
2001 Andrew Grant Bequest Prize, Edinburgh College of Art
1998 Cairncross Prize in Economics