myself. I always loved any form of crafts. Your style is very unique. Did you work on developing a style or is that what naturally came out of you? The first time we had a paper workshop at Glasgow School of Art, I knew I had found my medium! I just seemed to know how to get paper to do what I wanted (I think a lot of that comes from the years of making clothes). Someone once described my style as “drawing with a scalpel” rather than making and constructing and I think that’s a pretty good description. The paper sculptures are very like my drawings. I’ve always been attracted to images with a dramatic perspective, or that have a flow to them and that’s what I try to achieve in paper. Before I discovered paper, I tried all sorts of drawing and painting styles, but this is the style and way of working that just naturally worked for me.
I also have to mention my amazing art teacher at Brantwood School, Mrs Carpenter - an absolutely incredible art teacher, who never let you rest on your laurels! She really did nurture and inspire me from a very young age. Being at Glasgow School of Art when I was, has had a long-lasting affect on me. There was a spirit and creative energy in the place that kept building - there are several successful artists who were there at the same times me. Looking back it seems like I was there during a golden age, but at the time it felt more like having to work really hard just to keep pace with everyone!
What kind of kid were you? Where did you grow up? What were your influences?
What markets does your work appear in? Newspapers, magazines, galleries? How did that come about?
I grew up in Sheffield, England with an older sister and a younger brother. Sadly my sister died when I was 17, just a few months before I left home to study in Glasgow. I’d say she was one of my biggest inspirations growing up, along with my mother. The pair of them had amazing imaginations (my sister was a writer and my Mum made up inspired games when we were little), and had a “joie de vivre” and “I can” attitude that still influence me today. My sister never let her ill health compromise her ambitions or used it as an excuse. As a child I spent a lot of time drawing and making things, especially clothes for my dolls, then later clothes from
All of them! Probably galleries least of all, but I’m working on rectifying that :) I don’t really like it when people describe illustrations as being “publishing” or “editorial”. To me, illustrations are more than just being about a style or a category. A good illustration conveys something more, whether it’s a complete narrative or a lifestyle moment…a good illustration actually says something and is more than just a pretty image. On that score, an illustration has to work much harder than a gallery piece. I’ve also know of illustrators who will only work for advertising or “blue chip” clients and frown upon editorial. For me every job I do has it’s own merits and appeal.
