Where art meets design meets learning
I’m a fine art painter who makes contemporary abstract landscape paintings. I work from my home studio in Angus, Scotland where I also design and run creative workshops.
I’m represented by a number of galleries and have exhibited throughout the UK. I’m fortunate to have artworks in private collections across the world.
I also manage project and design work for clients and I’m a Freelance Designer with the Learning Team at V&A Dundee.
My story…
I graduated from Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design, University of Dundee in 1997 with a BDes (Hons) in Constructed Textiles, specialising in Gobelin tapestry weaving. I completed a Master of Fine Art in 2003.
I have an exciting portfolio of projects – the result of working across the creative sector for over 25 years. My life as a fine artist and designer is finely interwoven with education – which is at the heart of all that I do.
Alongside my studio practice I began my career in an independent public arts agency, where I designed and delivered creative workshops for schools and community groups. I went on to work in a small independent publishing company, spent time as a designer/weaver at The Edinburgh Tapestry Company, taught degree-level design students, became a director of a small company, organised exhibitions and pop-up galleries, collaborated on projects and workshops in schools the length and breadth of Scotland, supported practice-led research projects and facilitated and designed a number publications.
I worked in Higher Education for over ten years – this included the role of Project Co-ordinator at the University of Dundee’s Visual Research Centre where I supported practice-led research projects. As Co-ordinator for the Designing for the 21st Century research initiative (a 5-year, £6.5m joint initiative funded by AHRC and EPSRC), I worked with a multitude of HEI’s across the UK, which involved 41 projects and over 900 different research outputs.
photo credit: @euancherry
In 2010, I established Project Stuff – a design and project coordination business. I developed an exciting portfolio of projects gained from working across the creative, academic, public and private sector. I have worked on a variety of project types with a number creative professionals – I have supported, collaborated and designed with some really amazing people!
I spent a number of years as an Associate with Open Change, a Dundee-based service design and innovation company.
In 2015, I launched EXPLORE PLAY CREATE: creative workshops for children and adults of all ages and abilities. The workshops encourage curiosity and cover many aspects of creativity – including design thinking, fine art processes and craft making.
I have been a Freelance Designer with the Learning Team at V&A Dundee since its opening in 2018, and I work with various organisations delivering creative and educational workshops.
I am currently working with Greengallery supporting their exhibition programme and creating digital content for their website and social media.