I studied sculpture at the Norwich Art School 1986-89, and went onto a postgrad  diploma of Art Therapy at St Albans Art College.I work both as a sculptor, and as sculpture teacher. I am now based near Oxford, and mainly work in clay, though also in stone, wood, plaster and polystyrene/expandable foam. My sculptures vary in size, between 10 and 230 cm height.

 

With all my sculptures I want to achieve a certain degree of simplicity and abstraction. Beauty to me is simplicity, clarity, concentration and must extend beyond decorative prettiness. Beauty is to be able to hold contradictions, tensions and ambivalence – it is a balance kept despite conflict.

 

I am fascinated by ”strong form”. With both figurative and abstract sculptures, I search for a sense of fullness contrasted with negative shapes; sharp angles between surfaces, juxtaposed with smoothness.

 

With my abstracted heads particularly,  I explore themes on the interface of mythology, psychology and spirituality – mental states, relationships, human identity, maternal love, and solitude are universal experiences that influence my artwork. Some of my ideas derive from my other career as an arts educator and therapist, which makes me very aware of the psychological and expressive potential of sculptures.