Journeys in Mind at The Bluecoat Display Centre, Liverpool

Artefacts / Ceramic / 2017 / Photo by Neil White

Artefacts / Ceramic / 2017 / Photo by Neil White

An exhibition exploring personal journeys and experiences of mental health from the perspective of designer makers including: Gill Curry, Sue Gregor, Jo Heckett, Harriet Rose Knight, Tabitha Moses, Charlie Manthorp, Julia Rushworth and Sarah Hitchens.

The exhibition runs from Saturday 20th January - Saturday 3rd March 2018
Open Mon - Sat 10am - 5.30 & Sundays from noon - 5pm

The exhibition is curated by Frances Gill-Smith, Assistant Director.

Spot the Talent: An exhibition of Hothouse makers at The New Ashgate Gallery, Farnham

12th August - 23rd September 2017

This exhibition celebrates fresh, innovative and bespoke craft and is part of the New Ashgate Gallery's programme to "introduce some of the most exciting new makers to art lovers and collectors.  The makers are selected from the Crafts Council's prestigious Hothouse 2017 programme that offers a stepping stone for new makers wishing to break into the sector. Join us to see their work before the makers are spotted by prestigious manufacturers and retail outlets as Liberty London or Harrods. This is an opportunity to invest in the future of British crafts".

The exhibition features work by Elizabeth Jane Campbell, Casabi Designs (Chloé Smith), Majeda Clarke, Forest + Found, Kate Haywood, Sarah Hitchens, Line Nilsen, OLL (Anya Kovalieva), Amanda Priest, Julia Rushworth, Sophie Southgate and Charlotte Wilkinson

The New Ashgate Gallery is a Hothouse partner. Hothouse 2017 is a Crafts Council initiative where selected makers take part in the six-month programme which is delivered in partnership across four regions in the UK. It includes workshops, 1:1 mentoring and connects the maker to a national network of makers and organisations. It provides the maker with the tools to grow a sustainable and successful business when they need these skills most - at the start of their career.

Selected for Crafts Council's HOTHOUSE programme

I am delighted to have been selected as one of the 38 designer-makers for Hothouse 2017 - a six month professional development programme which provides the knowledge, support and networking opportunities to enable participants to develop successful and sustainable businesses. I am hugely looking forward to the excitement and challenges of working with the other artists on board and taking my practice to the next level.

My Crafts Council directory entry can be viewed here.

www.craftscouncil.org.uk/what-we-do/hothouse/

Work at Black Swan Arts

My four weeks at Black Swan Arts in Frome were busy and enjoyable.  I spent a few days settling in and making the space my own and getting used to the flow of visitors through the centre - not something I am used to in my own rural studio in the heart of the Blackdown Hills!

I had great fun getting visitors to make weird and wonderful creations with the air-drying clay and really enjoyed the visits of hoards of primary school children who were intrigued by what I was doing and thrilled to get the chance to make something to take home. 

It was good to be part of such a vibrant creative community; to meet other artists and makers and spend intensive time making and working on ideas for the future.

All in all it was a very valuable experience - made all the more enjoyable by my right-hand girl, 6 year old Alice, who sat for hours making at my side and told me very earnestly that she was going to be an artist when she grew up!

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Creative Pathways Bursary at Black Swan Arts, Frome

I have been awarded one of 4 Creative Pathways Bursaries this year by Somerset Art Works to create a new body of work to showcase in the pop-up studio at Black Swan Arts in Frome.

I'll be there Tues - Sat: 10am - 4.30pm from Sept 13th to Oct 8th plus Sunday 2nd Oct. I will be exhibiting and making new work and inviting visitors of all ages to get their hands dirty making their own small sculptures for free.  Come along for a chat, watch me at work and ask any questions you have.

The Evolver Prize Exhibition 2016

Every year Evolver Magazine invites artists to submit images for the front cover of its Summer issue. This year the winner is Linn O-Carroll with her beautiful etching of a single Gingko leaf. LInn's image alongside 49 other selected works will be exhibited at Black Swan Arts, Frome from 2nd July - 27th August and will include my photograph of a detail of 'Amorphic I'.