About
Wherever you are in the world. I thank you for spending the time to look at my website.
I live on the edge of the wilderness in far southern Tasmania, near the town of Dover.I came to this wild and beautiful place after finishing my fine arts degree about 35 years ago building a small studio/house. Over the years building a larger house myself and over the sheds and gardens. I can’t help but be creative whether it’s building, gardening, in my family or my small community.
My work over the years is in many different mediums, weaving tapestry, felt, printmaking, glass, drawing, sculpting and painting, more recently,(the last 20 yrs) clay. The earth, water, fire thing seems so fundamental and natural to me as a medium for expression and reflects the world that surrounds me.I love working around and around a pot it has both more challenges and more possibilities than a blank square. Slips (liquid clay) are the most luscious paints in the world.
Mostly self taught it has been a huge learning curve and challenge as I strive to understand such a vast historical body of knowledge to create my ideas. So much trial and error clay can be a hard master.
It is a quiet life of thought, walking, reading, writing, drawing and developing ideas and skills for creative work in the studio.
My aim with my work is to re enchant and remythologise the everyday, landscape or life. My hope is that each piece speaks its own voice to someone who needs to hear it.
SEA LANGUAGE - ROCK POOLS
Every day I walk my dogs Zumi and Luna along the shoreline.
As I pay attention to this ever changing beautiful place I find objects amongst the flotsam and jetsam.
Back in the studio I work intuitively and collaboratively with the object delicate seaweeds, sticks, rocks, feathers. Searching for a voice.
I have become increasingly fascinated with seaweeds over the years their intrinsic beauty, resilience,but also increasing risk in a warming world.
They wanted to sing their song to enchant us like looking into rockpools did when when we were children.
This work speaks of the generative and transformative power of the ocean, and the fragile and delicate life held within it.
These pieces are mementos that speak to our distant watery soul.
TREE LANGUAGE
These pots are thrown and hand built in a range of earthenware clay's, using flotsam sticks to speak the voice of our majestic forests which stretch to the sea.
Working around and around a pot intuitively with sticks and painting or inlaying with local clay's and slips (the worlds most beautiful paint.) each takes its journey.
It is very tricky though as each colour changes completely when fired and then glazed so its a real challenge.
I explore our relationships and those between the trees, underground and the light and landscapes as we move through the forests on our journey.
MODERN FAIRYTALES
These are the stories as women we tell ourselves and each other,we can do it all.
Juggle,Just got to keep all the balls in the air, become an octopus, grow wings and fly, fins and swim. We do the daily hula of balencing our work and career holding together relationships, families and communities whilst caring for others,and endless meals and chores.
Deep underwater we reach for our life ring, link arms and haul ourselves and each other up with loving kindness and celebrate life.
There are no princes in shining armour here to save the day. This is her story and you are your own hero.
For we hold up half our sky of this fragile yet resilient planet with love. As we emerge from our dreams for another day, birdsnest hair and bleary eyed we must transform ourselves anew to a picture of feminine glory.
These small artworks are an invitation to take a moment, ponder over a cup of tea or contemplate a flower. Humble offerings to tell ourselves we are queens no matter how the world may treat us. Remind ourselves to listen to those small birds outside and within us. For this is our wisdom that allows ourselves to laugh and have compassion for ourselves and remain open and grateful for all the wonders that fill our days in this crazy world.
I invite you to look at the Collections and find out more about my work.