I started my working life as a graphic designer and it took me nearly 20 years of working in corporate environments to realise I needed to work for myself and have more control over my working day, creatively and ethically. I love books and learnt bookbinding, but this quickly grew to include leading creative workshops, exhibitions and commissioned public art. Today I specialise in pop-up books and paper art. I love working with paper because although it can be very fragile, it can also be strong and is very versatile - a bit like me, really! Did you ever think at the start of this journey that it would take this long and did you ever consider giving up? I knew it wouldn’t be a five-minute thing, but I didn’t quite realise just how hard it would be and how long it would take. Of course, I considered giving up - still do sometimes. But what keeps me going is the knowledge that Doncaster is a better place with Artfuel than without it, and I don’t want my twin babies growing up thinking their Mum couldn’t hack it [laughs]. What do you hope Doncaster’s creative community will look like in 15 years’ time? Things have slowly been changing for the better in the creative community in the time since Artfuel started. Every person who does something positive for Doncaster’s creative community adds to its chance of success and longevity. I hope that the creative community can have built enough of a reputation for quality, innovation, diversity, embracing change, engaging others, quirkiness and the ability to not take itself too seriously. As John Wayne said, “Get off your horse and drink your milk.” Or was that Freddie Starr... End For more information on Artfuel, including enquiries about renting studio space and volunteer opportunities, email info@ar tf u e l.or g . uk . ar tf uel.org.uk
Photography: Warren Draper
2015
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