About me:
I have been working at the Ulster Folk Museum, and as an freelance art tutor, since shortly after graduating from Duncan of Jordanston in 2009. Although I had studied fine art printmaking I wasn't really pursuing my own personal art making for many years. Instead I really enjoyed working with people and seeing them be creative and learn new skills.
However there was a growing feeling, particularly after I became I parent, like something was missing and my mental health was suffering as a consequence of ignoring that side of myself. Being a parent is incredible but you can start to loose sight of yourself a little bit and feel like you are just 'mum'. In 2022 I attended a short ceramics course to see if a new medium would help to 'wake me back up' - and it really did!
I think you can see my previous love of linoprinting in my ceramic work - the drawing style, carved surfaces and storytelling which I've always enjoyed. And after many years of being immersed in our folk traditions through the museum I'm sure it's no surprise that they have become a focus of my work, along with the changing seasons, nature and the rhythm of the year. The pieces are often bottles or jugs - they may seem like 'functional' objects - items that store something/pour something - but I imagine them storing and sharing stories and heritage rather than, say, an ungodly serving of milk.
The pieces are coil built and then illustrated using the sgraffito technique. The entire surface is covered in a contrasting colour of liquid clay, allowed to dry and then carved - much like making a linoprint.