In Good Company
My process is spontaneous I begin by making marks upon the surface avoiding preplanning or sketching. Although influenced by many historical painters I feel my work has become distilled, greatly simplified retaining its own truth, it is raw, vibrant, and dynamic taking cues from nature and my surroundings. Each mark or stroke is guided by a subconscious process and since being diagnosed I now fully understand how my neurodiversity not only affects my work but controls every line, mark and stroke I make.
I avoid copying or projection the affects of dreams, memories and direct visual stimuli have a profound affect upon me and it is this that I channel directly onto the canvas.
Using raw pigments, I try to let the pure colours direct my hand I will use canvas, cardboard, wood panel and paper to paint upon I am wanting to let the viewer interpret or get something new from the work every time they look at it, I like them to use their imagination, or their feelings and I want them to smile or feel happy and enjoy the visual power of the work.
Mission
My Industry experience has covered graphics, printing, photography, and darkroom specialisms.
I have 20 years of practice and tutoring in the community, which has allowed me to develop and apply the process to my way of painting and assisting students recovering from acute, severe and chronic life challenges such as stroke, addiction, and other real issues.
These courses and workshops were highly successful in rehabilitating members in the various groups I led.
I began in 2000 with one small studio in Tanfield Village we opened the doors to the community, and I quickly established myself seeking out funding from grant givers to equip the studio with enough materials to meet the learning requirements of anyone attending. Pretty soon it became apparent there was a great need for an art therapy style setting, a haven for people existing on the fringes of economically deprived communities still reeling from the affects of Thatcherism who were facing social disconnect.
As the studio’s reputation grew, case workers and G.P. referrals recommended my services and soon a studio was opened in Consett to service the community out there.
I not only used my lifelong experience in art but also my art history to make sure the sessions were interesting and engaging, my students resonated with many historical artists and how they had lived their lives and created their art.
The sessions were geared to each individual everyone learns at a different pace and processes differently I had neuro-divergent students collaborating with ex-addicts, stroke survivors and more, the atmosphere in the classes was infectious and the students quickly gained recognition especially after we staged exhibitions of their work and gallery tours I am very proud to say I changed a lot of peoples lives over two decades, only moving on to concentrate on my own work after establishing a safeguarding group and a finance committee.
Biography
Exhibitions
2022 Steel & Varley Optometrists Whitley Bay, Local Business supporting local art in the community.
2021 – 2022 Exhibition Innside Newcastle.
2021 Work displayed permanently rooms and suites Innside Newcastle.
2019 – 2020 Solo Exhibition Chester-le-Street Masonic Hall.
2001 – 2015 Solo Exhibitions at Civic Hall Stanley Co Durham.
2013 Permanent Exhibition of children’s art in the
Royal Victoria Infirmary Newcastle upon Tyne.
2013 Exhibition Tanfield Railway Shed.
2013 Lit and Phil Exhibition Newcastle upon Tyne
2011 Exhibition Glenroyd House Consett.
2010 Solo Exhibition Bondgate Gallery Bishop Auckland.
2000 – 2010 Public and private commissioned mural work for day centres, homes, retirement homes, churches, hospices and hospitals.
2009 Culture shock film produced and exhibition of works Discovery Museum Newcastle upon Tyne.
2006 Shipley Art Gallery Gateshead.
2003 Exhibition La Boca Newcastle upon Tyne.
2002 Solo Exhibition Rear House Gallery in Stanley Co Durham.
R e s i d e n c i e s
2015 – 2017 Painting demonstrations and exhibiting live at the Sage Gateshead interviewed by Radio Sunderland.
2013 – 2014 Live painting demonstration in John Lewis Newcastle upon Tyne, boosting sales.
2013 – 2014 Lino Cut and Christmas card demonstration in John Lewis Newcastle upon Tyne boosting sales.
2011 – 2013 Commission/residency for Brave Hearts of the North East and Clic Sargent at the R.V.I. Permanent display Children’s Atrium.
2000 – 2010 Public and private commissioned mural work for day centres, homes retirement homes, churches, hospices, and hospitals.
2002 – 2003 The Activity Den residency and mural painting.
2000 – 2001 Residency the Toby Henderson Trust Stannington Morpeth Murals, artwork, art publication interview with BBC and Tyne Tees.
C h a r i t a b l e G i v i n g
2013 - 2016 Brave Hearts of the North East
2015 Painting donation to Grace House North East and converting image to wallpaper via Original Wallpaper Company.
2013 – 2015 Macmillan Donations
2013 Children’s Heart Unit Foundation (CHUF)
2013 Children in Need
2011 – 2013 Peoples Kitchen Donations
2007 Lord Mayors invitation private reception recognising my charitable giving.
2002 – 2005 Scope and Mencap through auctions viaCarl & Abi at Busyape Arts.
C o l l a b o r a t i o n s
2016 – Present Black Penny Design
2022 Christopher Hodge Northumbria University Fashion Communication, Presentation Athens Greece.
2013 - 2016 Original Wallpaper Company S t u d i o s
2013 - 2015 Opened studio at Civic Hall Stanley Co Durham
2010 Opened studio Glenroyd House Consett
G r a n t s
Lottery Fund, Durham County Council, Arts Council, Local Council Funds
2013 – 2015 Civic Hall Stanley
2010 Glenroyd House
2007 Materials
2001 Tanfield Community Studio
P r e s s a n d M e d i a
C o v e r a g e
2016 Bikerventions featured in Devitt insurance Blog with interview
2016 The Crack Magazine
June 2015 Northern Echo
2015 / 2011 / 1996 John Lewis publications, Gazette & Chronicle June
2013 Interview Creative Crafting Magazine
June 2013 Evening Chronicle and Journal interview
April 2013 C.D. cover design & Evening Chronicle feature
February 2013 Living North Magazine
2006 Work seen by H.R.H. Countess of Wessex
2004 Northern Echo Donation and Feature
2002 Northern Echo feature
2001 Morpeth Herald Evening Chronicle Journal Sunday Sun
2001 Interviewed for BBC and Tyne Tees, Toby Henderson Trust.
2001 Northern Echo donations and fundraising
P u b l i c a t i o n s
2015 Printing of Bikerventions
2001 I Wish I Was Normal Collection of Poetry and Illustrations for Toby Henderson Trust
