Artist Statement
I grew up by the wild Atlantic coast in North Devon, have lived on several tidal estuaries, and I live now further down the same Atlantic coast in North Cornwall; so it’s not surprising that much of my work is/has been a long adventure into time & tide.
I’m endlessly inspired by the astonishing natural laws and majestic processes our lives are entwined with & governed by. I notice this most clearly in purposeful creative time spent at the tidal meeting-points of estuary, ocean, coast; and in the transitions between day & night: measures of deep time, ancient light, endless motion, repeating rhythms on enormous scales.
I find geological time and human time interact powerfully with each other and most clearly in coastal spaces; and much of my work leans into articulating or embodying aspects of this. The manner in which a single high spring tide can transform an entire beach; or how a solid cliff face of black & grey horizons - laid down when Cornwall was a sea-bed south of the Equator 360 million years ago, and later folded wildly and shot through with liquid rock when two tectonic plates collided over many centuries - can, in one split second, now, fall free to become loose stones, pounded and rounded by waves on a roaring strand.
This shifts something in me around what we humans expect from the world; how we might notice or spend our own brief time here. I’ve recently begun InTheSaltSpace – a new way to share some of these wider perspectives with others, by inviting them into this purposeful, arts-led coastal time & space with me.
Visually, I work in both 2D and 3D and, like the universe, I also love to play with scale: creating giant things from small ones, and tiny things from giant ones: playing between miniature and immense. I love to work and play with words, too: I take a great delight in experiencing the melting point of language when it alchemises to form new poetic meaning or metaphor. Language that is larger than us: giant words perhaps.
I almost always use natural materials in my art works. In my 2D+ assemblages you’ll find stone, slate, feathers, driftwood, mermaid’s purses and sea-worn or sea-borne things, alongside brass clock mechanisms, copper wire, shapes and colour; and in my sculptural works are willow, bamboo, copper, wax, twine, paper and sources of light.
I've created an extensive array of large light sculptures for festivals, projects and events over the past 18 years, and I’m often asked how or where I start when planning or making a large 3D piece. I begin with a combination of drawing & dreaming, researching and imagining the finished thing in my mind and on paper, and, when it's a commission, in creative conversation with the people who are commissioning me, before scaling, measuring & constructing with bamboo for straight lines and support, and willow for curve, shape, detail and definition. I layer and build partly following the willow’s natural desires, and partly guiding it to my own. The work is always a marvellous, challenging, unpredictable series of negotiations and agreements between the materials and me; just like life.
I learn something new in the making of every piece, and every time I go to the sea: about change, resilience, creativity, and process. I learn that each small step eventually leads to where I need to be, but that the first step should be a brave one that trusts in the unknown yet embodies a certain intuition or sense of direction. I’ve also learned that there’s never any shame in needing to retrace one’s steps, to go back & start again, when something doesn't work the first time.
Background & training
I grew up in coastal and rural North Devon, and in primary school was very lucky to have a professional visual artist as my class teacher - a huge influence, I'm sure! Since early childhood I've always sketched, photographed, created and painted, whatever else was going on in life. After A levels, I took a BTEC Diploma in Art & Design, and then did the first year of a combined Dance & Art BA Hons at Crewe before completing a BA Hons in Theatre & dance at Dartington. Every course I did included a photography module - even the Theatre degree!
Sculpting and large 3D
As a young teenager, one winter I built a life-sized horse out of snow with my sister: my first taste of sculpting at scale. A founder and Core artist with ARTiculate since 2010, my first large willow work was a trial commission for Truro City of Lights (an elephant on a boat, pictured here): a brilliant insight into the joys & challenges of large lantern builds, and the first of four large lanterns I created for them. I've also created bike-based cycling lanterns, animals and animated figures, large themed piñatas, monsters and dinosaurs, swans and seabirds, nests and tallships, giant boobs, beasts & baubles, for a host of festivals, companies, events and films. I'm always up for a big new challenge - so if there's a giant thing you need, get in touch!
2D, mixed media & photography
As I say in my Artist statement, I work and play in many media: on canvas and wood, in oils and acrylics, and with natural and found objects. I've exhibited & sold my 2D work and photography for a number of years and my work can be found in collections in the UK and internationally. I was selected to represent Cornwall with one other artist at the 39th Festival Interceltique de Lorient, Brittany in 2009, and again at Le Temps Du Sirens international Biennale of women artists in Brittany in 2010. I tend to share some of my photography on Instagram.Workshops, wonder and creativity
I offer a diverse range of hands-on workshops and creative opportunities for all ages, from nursery through to undergraduate level, and in diverse community settings. I believe in the importance of celebrating and fostering creativity along with a sense of wonder in our lives. It's inspiring when art opens up unexpected new ways of thinking and being, and I believe art and creativity should be at the heart of schools and other places of learning, not just taught or experienced in isolation. Art is a powerful tool for positive change. I know from experience that time spent immersed in seeing and making art opens up new possibilities, challenges preconceptions and helps us forge stronger, more connected, happier communities: ones that are also more resilient.
builds, commissions, visual arts projects - in no particular order!
Blenheim Road's Welsh Dragon! Cwmbran: 2026
Blenheim Road Primary School in Cwmbran approached me to co-create a large finale work with their Year 3/4 class, to finish and to celebrate their year-long light & light festival topic. Of course they all wanted to make a big Welsh Dragon lantern! Everyone in the class worked on designs, and then on each of the making and papering stages, to help create a beauty! The finished dragon lantern was installed and lit up in their wonderful shared classroom roof space, in grand style, in time to help celebrate St David's day in school on March 1st 2026.
CURLEW NOT CURFEW! Reclaim the Night on the Otter Estuary: 2025
The curlew is a symbol of freedom, wildness, hope and joy; a protector and a guide in wild spaces. The final magical element in my Wonderfully Wild Women programme in 2025, run in partnership with the Pebblebed Heaths Conservation Trust and exploring women's connections with nature as part of 'Pebblebeds For All', was a lantern workshop day in which we created 20 beautiful curlew lanterns for a special Reclaim The Night event on the Otter Estuary in December - we believe it's the first in RCN's 40 year history to take place on a Nature Reserve!
The Water Beast of Bodmin: 2025
This IntoBodmin commission worked with Bodmin schools and Scouts groups to create a mythical Water Beast, taking as inspiration the Waters & Wells of Bodmin and a new tale of a Water Beast, driven far inland by a storm. Inspired by the tale, the children each creatively envisioned their own personal idea of the Water Beast, and drew their designs on willow and tissue scales, fins and tails, all of which helpedto bring the Water Beast back to life in time to appear in Bodmin Carnival in August 2025. The carnival entry even won second prize in its category, along with a beautiful blue rosette!
Chandelier of Dreams & Dreamcatchers at Woodland Wonder! 2025
IntoBodmin invited me to run some magical workshops in the Burgage Plots woods and at the Old Library in September 2025: first creating a beautiful shared Chandelier of Dreams to hang up in the woods; and then helping Woodland Wonder visitors to create their own wonderfully wild Dreamcatchers - out of willow, ribbons, rags and clooties, driftwood, beads, baubles, feathers and shells - each one celebrating people's own dreams for their lives, and for Bodmin's future.
A Christmas Carol at Bodmin Jail: 2023-4
I was invited by Bodmin Jail to design & create two exciting and very different characters for their Christmas Carol winter 2023-4 trail.
The giant Ghost of Christmas Present was inspired by the Lord of Misrule, the Green Man, St Nicholas & the original Father Christmas; he wears an evergreen crown on his illuminated head, a rich green velvet cloak with white fur trim draped in ivy, and his giant feet are shod in green felt. (He also doubled as the Giant Bolster as part of the Jail's Folklore exhibit in 2025.)
The second character for Bodmin Jail's Christmas Carol winter 2023-4 exhibit was the small but rather more scary Ghost of Christmas Past: a tiny, ghostly floating child in a white embroidered cotton shift, with glowing hands, face and body...
WILD HEADS! 2024
Sam Horton & Caleb Barron's WildWorks project, Folk On The Edge, celebrated a living folklore of the borderlands between Cornwall & Devon. Inspired by Maying, Mumming, Dusking, Hedge Morris and other traditions ancient and modern, articulating our own seasonal sense of connection to place, I led two borderlands workshops in Launceston & Liskeard to create fantastic headdresses, crowns, fascinators and 'heads', adorned with driftwood, daisies, tatters, ribbons, horns, hagstones, ivy and roses, and a lot of imagination!
A Child's Eye View at Wadebridge Museum
Working with Wadebridge Museum and St Breock Primary School towards a more child-friendly Museum via the Child's Eye View project. The idea is simple: ask children what they find most interesting in their museum, their history & heritage, and then make it more accessible and inviting to them! With the children, we've been planning and designing a Treasure Trail, child-friendly exhibits, and four new murals at child's eye-level of interesting aspects of local life and history. Thanks to St Breock Community Fund & Wadebridge Rotary.
Arlodhes a Kosow: Lady of the Woods
Arlodhes a Kosow, or the Lady of the Woods, is new work in development: a haunting, striking 10ft tall giant processive figure, swathed in green with hooped skirts and antlers, ivy and lace. She's built on a backpack frame, will move her arms and head, and be operated by a single person on foot inside the skirt. She's currently in the making stage and will be available to hire for appearances soon: get in touch if interested!
DeadHeads for Bodmin Jail: 2023
As part of the first ever Beast of Bodmin Carnival in 2023 from Bodmin Jail Attraction, willow artist Jasmine Fassenfelt and myself conceived & created a set of nine illuminated 'DeadHeads': corpse-like animal-head lanterns, inspired by Mari Lwyd & Obby Oss figures from Cornish & Welsh folklore. As well as forming part of the Beast's procession, the DeadHeads also appear throughout the Jail Attraction, illuminating the darkest corners and adding an extra folk thrill to the visitor experience.
The Beast of Bodmin for Bodmin Jail: 2023
I was commissioned to create a giant Beast of Bodmin for Bodmin Jail in summer 2023, who was paraded through the streets as the star of the show in a special August 2023 Beast Festival run by the Jail.
Now a full-time lantern-in-residence, he still greets visitors to Bodmin Jail Attraction & Museum on a daily basis. Do go say hello!
3D construction with AA School Foundation: 2022 to present
Leading an annual Foundation module on 3D light & volume at the Architectural Association School of Architecture since 2022, I work with the students in London each autumn using willow lantern techniques to create 1:10 scale 3D maquettes of their Italian field-trip architectural drawings. We then transfer to the AA's woodland site at Hooke Park, Dorset to recreate the same structures at 1:1 or 1:2 scale in bamboo, willow & Chinese knotting techniques. The resulting giant light works are burned during a ceremonial closing event.
Luxulyan Feast Week & Carnival: 2023
Inspired by their brilliant WWII topic in school, the whole of Y5 & Y6 at Luxulyan Primary School worked with me to design and create a large willow make for their local Carnival & Feast Week in June 2023. We started with a pile of sticks, a rough drawing and a tape measure on the Monday morning; the stunning end result was an incredible 3m-wide Supermarine Spitfire aircraft, which won them Gold in their category, with the whole two-year group and teachers accompanying the aircraft dressed as pilots, land army girls, spies and more!
Electric Eeels for the Barbican Plymouth: 2022
A commission to create three single-operator giant electric eel puppets for the Barbican Theatre sparked off new collaborations with Laura Kriefman, Suzie West, Jamie Smith & the Barbican team. Together we co-designed, created, animated and lit three new cheeky eel characters for the Plymouth festive lights switch-on in Nov 2022, incorporating interactive sound-responsive LED lighting and other experimental techniques in the design, making and rigging. A trained puppeteer team is ready whenever you want to hire them out!
'The Hoss's Lament': a Random Act of Art for Kneehigh: 2021
A commission from Anna Maria Murphy & Kneehigh Theatre for their wonderful Random Acts of Art, and inspired by Anna's own story about a real ship wrecked off Mevagissey in the 1800s, I recreated the ghost lantern barque 'Hoss' and 'sailed' her around the streets & quays of Mevagissey at dusk one evening in March 2021, visiting the ship's lost timbers on the King tide of the year.
The Hoss was accompanied by a weathered old ship's figurehead (me), singing her lament to lost things, written by Carl Grose & Jim Carey, and co-sung on the night by drowned girl and able shipmate, Jenny Beare!
I have a longer term dream to develop a new work, inspired by this one, to highlight rising tides, touring coastal towns & villages across the SW UK - do get in touch if you're interested in partnering or supporting in some way.
Luxulyan Feast Week & Carnival: 2022
The whole of Years 5 & 6 at Luxulyan Primary School worked with me to create a large willow figure for their 25th June Carnival & Luxulyan Feast Week, depicting the golden bird that appears in a special stained glass window in their local church. Every child in the school also created their own beautiful carry-makes (dream-catcher meets stained-glass window, with streamers!) depicting objects, leaves, mini beasts, animals and other imagery from the natural world, inspired by the children's Nature Journals as part of Schools For All Seasons.
The Word Bird, 2020
I've been working with Sally Crabtree for several years on developing innovative creative literacy ideas around the theme of birds and words - a combination we are both inspired, thrilled and excited by! As part of this work, Sally commissioned me to create a Word Bird for a nursery-based creative literacy project she was delivering in Penzance in early 2020.
Sally says: "The Word Bird has helped raise levels of literacy in the very young children, who were charmed by it - as were the adults - and it has inspired them to create poetry that amazed everyone and helped the nursery become ‘Outstanding’ in their Ofsted review!"
Trebah Garden of Light: 2021
The Trebah Garden team invited Tony Crosby and me to be lead artists on Trebah Garden of Light in 2021. We co-curated a small team of artists to experiment with light and play with scale in the beautiful garden setting. The group produced an array of delightful new work to captivate visitors to the night garden over two magical winter weekends. I floated a giant swan on the lake, installed a tiny tallship on a pond in the Water Gardens, and hung huge seed pods and sycamore seeds twirling gently in tall trees.
'A Wider World' Island Light Festival, ARTiculate: 2022
A wild & wonderful Island Light festival was had this winter by the community of Scilly. We worked with hundreds of local people of all ages to create migratory, bird themed lanterns both large and small (I led on a giant Swift build with the students); we enjoyed new musical elements with our collaborators, Wilderness; and finally we held a grand celebration in the Church after three storms hit during our festival fortnight!
'Life Lights' Island Light Festival, ARTiculate: 2020
'LIFE LIGHTS' was a fantastic 2-week ARTiculate community arts residency on Scilly in Feb 2020, celebrating the Islands' unique heritage of saving lives at sea. We conceived and delivered a project which involved hundreds of Islanders in a full week of school activity and another of community workshops, creating exciting wearable & portable processive builds (including the Tallship & Scillonian III here, which I designed and led on) for our final magical parade - and an impressive celebratory cake-led finale! Full info & photos on the ARTiculate website
Voyager, Illuminate Plymouth: 2018 & 2019
I won a commission to build my Illuminated 3m tall Mayflower ship lantern design for the Illuminate Festival Plymouth’s first Mayflower 400 celebrations in Nov 2018; and was invited back again with a revamped and enhanced Mayflower for 'Voyager'at Illuminate 2019.
The ship is built on a trailer, towed by bicycle, which 'sailed' around the streets of Royal William Yard, interacting with the public at this hugely successful festival of light.
Wadebridge Christmas Wonderland: 2019
I was approached by Wadebridge Chamber of Commerce to produce and manage the arts content for their first ever Wadebridge Christmas Wonderland Procession in 2019. This included designing and creating this giant Swan, leading schools carry-lantern workshops with 85 Year 4 and Year 5 children across two Wadebridge schools; and running a free, on-the-day community workshop, creating themed willow illuminations to carry; as well as managing all the final creations in the procession on December 14th!
The Early Bird & the Word Worms! Words In Woods: 2019
For the inaugural Words In Woods Festival organised by IntoBodmin & KEAP at Cardinham Woods, I created a processive character - The Early Bird - and her 'Word Worms' roving mini-poetry workshops, delivered out in the woods from a special set-up on the back of a bicycle. The Early Bird is a lovely advocate for our wild birds and their natural habitats, encouraging awareness and involvement in environmental issues through the arts, for all ages.
The Galleon PinARTa, Sea Salts & Sail: 2018
I loved making this beautiful Galleon 'PiñARTa' for Sally Crabtree at the Sea Salts & Sail Festival in Mousehole in 2018; I ran two days of workshops in a tent on the beach, inspiring children & families to create mini artworks and poems to fill it with, before we bashed it and shared the art, poems and sweets out each evening! Commissioned by Sally Crabtree and Word Voyages, this was also part of 'Dark Skies: Bright Stars' from Mayes Creative.
The Damselfly & Aviatrix, BikeLights Minibeasts: 2017
The BikeLights team invited me to create a 'MiniBeast' build for the themed 2017 procession, and this idea for a Damselfly built around a bike frame was born, piloted by her Amelia Earhart-style Aviatrix. I also worked as an artist on the 'on-the-day' workshops for the first time, and helped coordinate materials for the festival workshops, before being invited to get involved in the producing side of things the following year.
Tyrannosaurus Rex, City of Lights: 2013
My largest & most complex lantern build was this T Rex for City of Lights 2013, created in The White Building at Truro College where I was City of Lights artist-in-residence for that year, being very pregnant. The lantern had 13 separate moving parts and took 9 people to carry it and help work its head, tail & jaws. BBC Radio Cornwall were my brilliant chief lantern bearers on the night, which was really windy!
Faerie Queen, City of Lights: 2012
I created this giant Faerie Queen lantern commission also for Truro City of Lights in 2012 when she got to be the lantern who 'switched on' the city's Christmas lights during the event. This lantern had an extra lease of life as she was also chosen for year-long display in the lovely atrium space above The Lander Gallery in Lemon Street Market, Truro, from Nov 2012 - Nov 2013.
Condor piñata, El Dia de Los Muertos: 2017
Time To Shine - the creators of the Wadebridge ‘El Dia de Los Muertos‘ 2017 event - approached me to create a giant Condor Piñata and to run family & community workshops to decorate the build, before hosting a grand 'bashing' of the bird, and of course a sweet-sharing, at the end of the afternoon!
Jabberwocky, Wonderland at 10 Acre Wood: 2017
I created what I imagined Lewis Carroll's Jabberwocky to look like for 'Wonderland at 10 Acre Wood' site-specific theatre in 2017 - a large, stilted character with huge black wings, a scary long neck & removable head with red glowing eyes, built on a backpack frame. I ended up having a lovely time training up in stilt-walking and then performing the role in the shows, as well as singing backing harmonies when not dressed as a Jabberwocky.
The Glamophone & Muse! BikeLights: 2016
Variously inspired by His Master's Voice, The Spirit of Ecstasy and all things 1920's, this giant 'Glamophone', complete with dancing shadow 'flappers', and an accompanying, highly-lit Muse, was conceived, created and performed for the Wadebridge BikeLights festival for its 2016 theme, Marvellous Machines!
Cycling Circus Bear & Ring Mistress, BikeLights: 2015
'Circa Ursa Major' was an off-the-wall commission idea for BikeLights 2015, whose nicely vague theme was 'Circles and Cycles'... they went for it, and to my own great surprise I managed to make a life-sized circus bear who actually cycled, built on a Tag-along being cycled by her red-coated, top-hatted ring-mistress to keep her in check!
Gryffon, City of Lights: 2010
This Gryffon made for City of Lights 2010 was a big hit with all the kids, who thought he was Buckbeak the Hippogriff from Harry Potter! The lantern was lovely to make and was also chosen for a year-long display in the Lander Gallery atrium space in Truro from Nov 2010 - Nov 2011.
Elephant, City of Lights: 2009
'When The Circus Came to Town' was my first build for City of Lights in 2009 - and my first ever large lantern build. I was thrilled when it was chosen for a year-long display in the atrium at the Lander Gallery, Truro from Nov 2009 - Nov 2010. It also enjoyed a new home for a time at the Port Eliot Estate, St Germans, whose emblem is, of course, an elephant! I also recently learned that it eventually ended its years as a special guest of Meva Feast.
Trebah NestFest: 2019
This giant nest was created during Trebah Garden's Easter festivities for 2019. Using cut branches & greenery collected by the Trebah Gardening team, working with visiting familiies I crafted the nest during one lovely busy day. Another artist workshop ran the following day to decorate the nest with flowers & feathers from the Gardens; this is the beautiful collaborative result!
Prideaux Gulls: 2017
I was approached by DR2 and Simon Birch Company to create willow gull lanterns for use as props and on set during the Prideaux Angels site specific theatre performances at Prideaux Place in winter 2017. Working with a community group in Wadebridge and a school group from Calstock in South East Cornwall, we created around 30 beautiful illuminated gulls, which appeared throughout the show's run.
community workshops
- Tall Ships & Tall Tales at Sea Salts & Sail 2022: a weekend of community arts workshops and Crankie storytelling for all ages on the beach at the 2022 Mousehole festival of the sea!
- Luxulyan School at Luxulyan Carnival: large sculture creation and willow 'dream catcher/stained glass' workshops with the whole school for the 2022 carnival
- BikeLights: community and intergenerational workshops with elderly & younger participants; and on-the-day open community workshops (image of a Wyndhurst Orchard workshop pictured) decorating bikes, scooters, walkers and wheelchairs for processions, 2017- present
- Semaphore Stories: ARTiculate visual and story arts residency with Mayes Creative and Creative Scilly, May 2019
- Willow creature workshops for Penzance Library for Penzance Arts Week, summer 2017
- Frida Kahlo painting workshops with adults & older children at the Callington Arty Party for Pentreath Ltd, 2017
- Boscastle Festival sea-themed open community 3D sculpture workshop weekend, culminating in two mini-processions, 2015
- Boscastle Arts: lantern-making willow workshops for adults and children, Duck Race Day festival July 2015
- Mussels on the Fal: artist residency & drop-in community workshops/installation with ARTiculate for Fal River Fest 2013
- Truro City of Lights: lantern-making workshops in Truro schools 2009, 2010 and COL artist in residence Truro College 2013
- Chance & Change: community art & dance workshops in North Cornwall with dancer Gemma Kempthorne 2010
- Shadow Stories, North Cornwall: story creation, character & shadow play residency 2009
- Hidden Worlds: NCAN combined arts residency with Tony Gee and The Moveable Feast Co: Gaia, 2009
schools workshops
Schools activities and workshops I've also run include:
- Ocean conservation & arts workshops with Berrycoombe Primary School, Bodmin, June 2026
- Story scrolls creative writing & arts workshops with Berrycoombe and St Mary's Primary Schools, Bodmin, Sept 2025 & Feb-March 2026
- Schools arts week working with Five Islands Academy on St Mary’s & St Agnes, Isles of Scilly - part of the LIFE LIGHTS Island Light Festival residency with ARTiculate, Feb 2020
- BikeLights: community workshops programme delivery for illuminated processive projects in Wadebridge & Bodmin, 2017 - present
- Story Box: creative story arts workshops for Endelienta with St Minver CP School and Open The Book group, 2017-18
- Willow Bees sculpture workshops with Year 2 Wadebridge Primary Academy, 2017 (pictured)
- Giant Christmas gift: build and willow workshops with nursery and Reception classes, Wadebridge Primary Academy, 2016
- Magical Spirals: beach sculpture workshops with Port Isaac & Boscastle Schools for DR2, 2015 (pictured)
- Truro & Penwith College Artist in Residence at The White Building for Truro City of Lights, 2013
- Truro City of Lights: lantern-making workshops in Truro schools alongside large builds, 2009 & 2010
exhibitions, expositions
Some recent 2D exhibitions/expositions:
- 2d and 3D works on permanent display at Two Bays Trust, Trevathan, St Endellion 2025-26
- Tall Trees and Feathers: joint show at Blisland with artist Jane Swan as part of Music on the Moor, Summer 2026
- Spirit of Cornwall Open: piece chosen for exhibition at Royal Cornwall Museum, Truro, Autumn 2023
- WOOD+GREEN Wadebridge: exhibition & sale of 2D and photographic works, 2018-2021
- TubeStation Polzeath: exhibition & sale of works, 2017-2018
- Mussels on the Fal: with ARTiculate artists in residence at Fal River Fest on the King Harry Ferry, 2013
- Paper Scissors Stone: 2D mixed media works selected for exhibition & sale of works Lander Gallery, Truro 2011
- Le Temps Du Sirens: works selected for international Biennale of 42 women artists, Lorient, Brittany, 2010-11
- Festival Interceltique de Lorient, Brittany: artworks and photography representing Cornwall’s visual arts alongside one other artist at prestigious 39th International festival, 2009
