Artists Statement
At the age of 19 I trained as a potter in the Lake District and subsequently worked in a pottery in Antigua, the Caribbean.
I returned in 1991 to study Art and Design in Carlisle and finally completed a Ceramics degree at university in Cardiff, Wales. On completion I moved to Brighton where I helped to create and run an art gallery in Brighton for four years. I specialised in curating exhibitions for the Applied Arts.
In 2001 I set up my greeting card company Grogrogro Design which led to my career as a full time painter and potter. I love to be in nature and have a passion for gardening. I am fortunate to live in Brighton, a vibrant city which is blessed by the coast and the Sussex downs. I have a love of travel and discovering new landscapes and culture which add to the riches of inspiration.
The core of my work comes from freedom. I am inspired by the synergy of nature, the play of energies in the process of creation. I work from the heart wishing to achieve 'no mind'. I am passionate to create and often move around diverse materials, oils, ink, clay, therefore forming no patterns, no rules. I paint with my hands creating a closer relationship to the subject and medium allowing myself to flow with the experience of the process itself.
CV
Born - Sydney, Australia 1970
Currently - Lives and works in Brighton, England
Education and Experience
2020
2020 Brighton Seafront Arch Gallery open when possible due to pandemic
2020 Art5 Gallery - ongoing representation
2020 Corner Gallery - ongoing representation
2020 Xmas Open House (Montpelier Road - Dec)
2019
2019 Opening of Studio Arch - Brighton Seafront July 21st
2019 Ceramic collection commissioned by Glyndebourne
2019 Art5 Gallery - May Festival Showcase May 1-7th
2019 Art5 Gallery - ongoing representation
2019 Corner Gallery - ongoing representation
2019 Pop up show - Lord Roberts on the Green with the Corner Gallery
2018
2018 Art5 Gallery - ongoing representation
2018 Corner Gallery - ongoing representation
2018 Martlets Spailspace - Public sculpture for Martlets Hospice and care June-November
2018 'Poppy' the snail 1st in online peoples vote on twitter
2018 Auction for South West Kidney Charity in conjuntion the Corner Gallery
2017
2017 Xmas Artist Open House, Brighton Nov/Dec
2017 Ashdown Gallery, Mixed Flower Group Show, September
2017 Countryfile Live, Paintings and Demos, Aug 4-7th
2017 Spring Show, Corner Gallery, April-May
2017 Spring Show, Ashdown Gallery, April-May
2016
2016 Chester Arts Fair, November
2016 Countryfile Live, Paintings & Demos 4-7th Aug
2016 Summer Show, Corner Gallery, July-Aug
2016 Valentines Exhibition, Ashdown Gallery, Feb
2015
2015 ‘MADE’ Brighton Art Fair, November
2015 Heart Kitchen, Live painting event, October
2015 Lavender Exhibition, Corner Gallery, June
2015 East Collaboration, May Festival, Brighton
2015 Lys Boutique, May onwards, Zurich
2015 Easter Exhibition, Ashdown Gallery, March
2015 Valentines Exhibition, Ashdown Gallery, Feb
2015 Valentines Exhibition, Art5 Gallery, Feb
2014
2014 Group Show, Art5 Gallery, Brighton, Dec
2014 Collaboration with EAST in Brighton, Dec
2014 MADE Brighton Art Fair, Nov
2014 Collaboration with EAST in Lewes, Sept
2014 Corner Gallery, Solo Show, Carshalton Beeches, Sept
2014 SEE Art Fair Tunbridge Wells with Ashdown Gallery, July
2014 Liverpool Art Fair with Art5 Gallery, July
2014 Article in Prima Magazine, June Issue
2014 Ashdown Gallery, Solo Show, Forest Row, May
2014 Valentines Exhibition, Group Show, Art5 Gallery, Brighton
2013
2013 Xmas Open House, Brighton, Nov-Dec
2013 Makers Boutique, Fishing Quarter Gallery, Brighton Nov-Dec
2013 Xmas Group Exhibition, Corner Gallery, Carshalton Beeches, Nov-Dec
2013 Xmas Group Exhibition, Ashdown Gallery, Forest Row Nov-Dec
2013 Ceramics Group Exhibition, Corner Gallery, Carshalton Beeches, September
2013 Autumn Show, Group Exhibition, Ashdown Gallery, Forest Row
2013 10 for 10 Charity Exhibition, Art5 Gallery, Brighton, Sept
2013 Open House, Brighton Festival, May
2013 Valentine's Exhibition, group show, Art at Five gallery
2012
2012 Makers Boutique, Fishing Quarter Gallery, Nov/Dec
2012 Xmas Market, Naked Eye gallery, Hove
2012 Xmas Exhibition, group show, Corner Gallery
2012 Edinburgh Art Fair, Art at Five gallery, November
2012 The Peace Project, Selected to take part in this years publication
2012 Five for Five, Group exhibition, Corner Gallery
2012 Brighton Festival Open House, May
2012 Glasgow Art Fair, Art at Five Gallery
2012 Valentine Show, Art at Five Gallery, Brighton
2011
2011 Xmas Open House, Brighton
2011 ‘Xmas Exhibition’ group show - Corner Gallery, Carshalton Beeches
2011 Edinburgh Art Fair with Art at Five Gallery, Nov
2011 'Lavender Exhibition' group show, Corner Gallery, July
2011 'Open House' Brighton Festival, May
2011 'Solo Exhibition' Corner Gallery, Carshalton Beeches, April
2011 'Spring Show' Art at Five Gallery, Brighton, March
2010
2010 'Xmas Exhibition' group show - December, Naked Eye Gallery
2010 'Christmas Show' group show - December, Art at Five Gallery
2010 'Xmas Open House', Brighton, Nov-Dec
2010 'Edinburgh Art Fair' with Art at Five Gallery
2010 'Lavender Blue Dilly Dilly' Group Show, Corner Gallery, Carshalton Beeches
2010 'Open House' Brighton Festival, May
2010 Glasgow Art Fair with Art at Five Gallery
2009
2009 Xmas Open House, Brighton
2009 Edinburgh Art Fair with Art at Five Gallery
2009 Solo show, The Art House, Sept/Oct
2009 'Open House' Brighton Arts Festival, May
2009 Glasgow Art Fair with Art at Five Gallery
2009 Valentines Show, Art at Five Gallery, Brighton
2008
2008 Xmas Open House, Brighton
2008 100 Artists for World Aids Day Exhibition
2008 'Open House' Brighton Arts Festival, May
2007
2007 Brighton Open Houses, Xmas Show
2007 Birla Millenium Gallery, London, Group Show
2007 Illustrated book 'My Humble Opinion' by Justin Jarrett
2007 Claremont Hotel, Spring Exhibition, Hove
2006
2006 Brighton Open Houses, Xmas Show
2006 Frogfirle Barn, Xmas Show
2006 1215 Gallery, Runnymede, Summer Show
2006 Illustrated book 'All About Me' by Elsabe Smit
2006 Finalist at the Art at Five 'Brighton Artist of the Year' competition.
2006 Exhibition at the Courtyard Gallery, Yorkshire
2006 Nominee of the Best 'Open House' Latest Home Awards, Brighton
2006 'Open House' exhibition, Brighton Arts Festival
2006 Exhibited with the Canvas Gallery, Brighton
2005
2005 Solo Show, The Naked Eye Gallery, Brighton
2005 'Open House' exhibition, Brighton Arts Festival
2004
2004 Exhibited with the Canvas Gallery, Blanche House, Brighton
2004 'Open House' exhibition, Brighton Arts Festival
2004 Illustrated the book 'The Tapestry of Life' by Elsabe Smit
2003
2003 to Present Started 'Grogrogro Design' Greeting Card Business
Gallery/Curator Experience
1998 - 2001 Curator for the Applied Arts, White Gallery, Brighton
2001 SOFA Chicago, curator with the White Gallery. Funded by the Crafts Council, England Exhibition at The Courtyard Gallery, Yorkshire
2000 SOFA Chicago, curator with the White Gallery. Funded by the Crafts Council, England.
Education
1993 - 1997 Ceramic BA Hons, Cardiff University
1991 - 1993 Art and Design Diploma, Carlisle College of Art
Pottery Work Experience
1990 - 1991 Production Thrower - Cockleshell Pottery, Antigua, West Indies
1989 - 1990 Voluntary work - Torver Pottery, Coniston, Lake District
Press Articles
Prima Magazine, June issue 2014
Ingenue Magazine, May issue 2016
The Garden Magazine, July issue 2016
