Artist’s Statement
I love my work. I have never made any distinction between making art and gardens. Both are a material interventions, one permanent, the other in need of ongoing tending. I make the worlds I want to see; images and places, with paint or soil, illusiory or real. Wood anemones/primroses and foxgloves are never seen together because they flower at different times of year but I can paint that. One of the fantastic things about being an artist is I can do what I like. Those natural rules don’t apply. When I’m landscaping and gardening the realities of the land shape what can be made and this is wonderful in different ways- all the unexpected outcomes, where a plant self seeds, grows especially well or becomes an important habitat for eg butterflies, and as a gardener I get to put what I like side by side to look amazing and benefit wildlife.
Both processes are very important to me. To collaborate with people and facilitate work with others is also a vital component of my work. I have witnessed the most profound impact of creative processes with many people, giving agency and peace of mind and I have learnt the most unexpected lessons from sharing these experiences.
With a background in Fine Art, specialising in installation, I developed my practice around the realities of my life. From an early age I was involved in direct action and protest for both animal rights and the environmental movement. The defences and performative aspects of this work gave rich scope for creative work, the pressing issues being both motivational and depressing. Following much counteractive activity, which is depleting and where injuries are sustained, I started working in a safer way. I set up an arts company Living Space Arts, and a tree nursery and herb garden, Touchwood Trees, following having my first child. I started to do restorative planting, the creation of educational gardens and public/ community art. I worked in schools and nurseries, hospitals, residential schools, PRUs and museums, making environments for creativity and learning.
Through increasing work with vulnerable people, such as in orphanages abroad and areas of extreme social deprivation in the UK, I started to understand the limitations in my own understanding of the immense power of art, and that I needed to ensure I could keep the participants, my co-workers and myself safe in the face of powerful material. This led me to taking a Masters in Art Psychotherapy where the clinical work confirmed the power of this work to change lives.
I qualified as a HCPC registered Art Psychotherapist in 2013, initially working with adolescents, then with adults in acute care in hospitals and the community. Through art as a conduit I have witnessed beautiful connections between people when it seemed that contact with another was entirely impossible. I practiced this alongside alongside making Public Art, and developing my own practice as this is a vital part of an effective practice.
The clinical work has informed my social/ community practice in many ways; I can address risk and difficult feelings, work safely with self expression and know the limitations of a project.
Since I have been caring for my mother, who has a diagnosis of Alzheimers, I have been unable to commit to clinical work so I have focused on public commissions which have a flexible timeframe and I have started to work with the elderly community, running art and gardening groups.
Whilst working for the NHS I ran a research project; Dementia, Creativity and Identity within a group where caregivers of those with a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s were given psycho-educational support whilst I, as an Art Psychotherapist carried out art sessions with the care receiver, resulting in many interesting findings on the nature of the needs of both.
Creativity gives agency, imagery and colour prompts memory, new skills can be learnt and deep connections can be made. The use of textiles was particularly important to this group, prompting feelings about clothes and identity.
It seems that the ambivalence felt by the carer requires much greater examination, be it motherhood with all its idealisations as well as other care roles, and the dialectics of house/ home making, potentially seen as drudgery or one of life’s wonderful rituals, where giving and receiving is a sacred transaction.
I am fascinated by the cultural and political aspects of care in this society. The common alternative to familial care is to outsource to professionals and institutions which are now mostly in private hands. This raises questions of emotional holding for the vulnerable and is reminiscent of the sanatoriums of the past where individuals were kept out of sight. Though this may minimise disruption to the working family, it raises questions about our ability as a society to value old age, and face our own mortality.
The care of the elderly in the post- industrial society seems to have learned little from the attachment theories that have transformed therapeutic approaches and childcare.
We shape the world we live in with all our decisions. I endeavour to work with individuals as a from of micro politics, with the organisations that support and advocate, and together with artists with conscience, create Public Art that represents the individual and the handcrafted in public space, with the aim of humanising that space. With the increasing encroachment of advertising, and use of corporate and hostile architecture, it is more important than ever that we claim space wherever possible, though street art, community gardens and public art.
Current work
Railway Land Wildlife Trust, Lewes. Wellhead mosaic, art groups and exhibition
Whitehawk Community Food Project, Shelter- ceramic mural, with community groups
The Sweet Shop Gallery, Lewes. Mosaic entrance
Learning for a Sustainable Life, woodland regeneration, Frith Wood. An arts/ environmental/ therapeutic programme. Creation of a traditional roundhouse, raw clay, foraging and bush-craft workshops
Art workshops for Sussex Garden School
Education
2023-25 Ongoing BAAT training and CPD Finding our Place in Nature, Wales
2022 Therapeutic Practice in Outdoor natural spaces
2018 Supervision in Art Psychotherapy
2017 Arts Awards: Bronze and Silver
2010-13 Art Psychotherapy MA Goldsmiths University, London
2001-03 Ceramics, Richmond College,
2004 Ceramics Sussex Met College, Brighton
1988-92 Fine Art, Sculpture and Installation 1st Class BA (Hons) Leeds Metropolitan University
1986-88 Art Foundation, Rochdale College of Art
Selected international collaborations and residencies
2025 Zaratan Art Contemporanea Artists residency, Portugal
2024 Ambientiamoci, Marotta, Italy
2019-20 Gunnersbury Park and Museum, London
2019 Vogeltreppe Mosaic Intervention, Permansens, Germany
2002-19 Treatment Rooms Collective. Mosaic House Chiswick
2018. Hands off the Wall Festival, Vienna, Austria
2017 Nuart Aberdeen Street Art Festival, Scotland
2015 UN International Year of Soil, Centre for Contemporary Art and the Natural World.
2013. Whitecross Street Art Festival, London. Gardens and ceramic works
2013 Arte x Parte 2 Public Art Berazateui, Argentina
2010-11 Cuckmere Haven PRU, Seaford. Artworks and food growing
2006-11 Moveable Feast Lead gardener/artist. The Mayor’s Thames Festival Feast on the Bridge
2007-10 Shaping Our Spaces Solihull; Changing public perception of green spaces and woodlands
2007-9 St Andrew’s School, Hove. Transformation of the newly built school grounds; large wildlife area, mixed native hedging and chestnut fencing, also; wooden troughs, trelliswork, climbing plants, seating, sculptures and mosaics, all made from reclaimed materials. Also completed a large wetland area and pond and a sensory garden, summer house and new compost bins
2005-7 Learning for Life, Stanmer Park, Brighton. Lottery funded seasonal environmental education
2001-4 World Emergency Relief. Children’s’ homes in Romania and Lithuania
Selected Public Art and Garden Commissions
2024 New Malden Public Art
2023 Transported, Heritage Public Art, Boston UK
2022 Regent’s Park Murals. Mission Invertebrate, with ATM Street Art
2020 Boston Buoys, Transported Public Art with Carrie Reichardt.
2020. Finsbury Park Station Elm Tree of Life Public Art Ceramic mural with Carrie Reichardt
2020. Harvard Hill Park Sculptures and paintings with ATM Street Art and National Park City
2019 Green Refuge. Artworks and planting to increase social and biodiversity. Kew Gardens, National Park City
2019 Hope Gardens. Mural with ATM Street art and Acton Homeless Concern
2018 Acton Tree of Life ceramic mural, including mentoring and public consultation
2017 Thelma Hulbert Gallery, Devon. Creation of mosaic table and seating.
2016 Extinction. Human Nature, Tower Hamlets, London
2015 Green Prospects. Brent Lodge Animal Centre. Sculpture, seating and shelter
2014-16 The Treatment Rooms. Mosaic taxi to raise awareness of the American Justice system.
2015 Acton Heritage Public Art ‘Home’ Mosaic sofa, exploring housing and immigration.
2012-13 Weir Community Art Garden, London; food growing and social space within an estate
2011 NEC Birmingham, International Year of Biodiversity: Gardeners World garden.
2012 Coin St and Fair St, London. Creation of community gardens for Housing Associations
2008-9 Bolnore Village, East Sussex Large scale Public Art for Central Square and green
2008 ‘Making a Difference’ Brighton and Hove City Council Easthill Park Bench Commission
2005 Elm Grove School, Brighton, Mosaic central to amphitheatre. July 2005
2004 National Tree Week, 8 School Grounds makeovers: Hedge Planting, planter troughs, raised beds, herb beds and tree planting Nov-Dec 2004
2002 Brighton Festival, ‘Temple Of Growth’ with Elm tree, Care Co-ops and MIND, Brighton
2001 Stephen Lawrence Art Project, Chisenhale Gallery, London June 2001
2002 Mural project, Groundwork. Crescent Play area, Southall, made with refugee children in hostels
Selected Art Psychotherapy
2023 Social Prescribing, Boston Community Centre, Online outreach, Steps to the Future
Boston Language School, Boston Market Square workshops
2020 Elder Flower Arts, groups for the elderly in support of people with a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s
2015-17 Cambian Churchill Psychiatric Hospital. Artworks, garden creation, with inpatients in acute care.
2014-16 ATIC, Sussex Partnership NHS Trust. Art Therapy in the Community at Phoenix Arts for people leaving inpatient care
2015 Cranstoun Recovery Centre, London Creation of permanent artwork with residents using mosaic making, poetry and text
2014 Genesis Project, Leeds. Permanent artwork to celebrate this organisation, which provides support, advocacy and information to women working within the sex industry
2014-16 Millview Hospital, Sussex Partnership NHS Trust. Art Psychotherapy Co-running Psychotherapy groups within an acute in-patient setting on a secure women’s ward.
2013-14 Sussex Partnership NHS Trust Research project ‘Dementia, Identity and Creativity’
2014 Dove Ward- Sussex Partnership NHS substance misuse. Artworks for wards.
2013-15 Oasis Brighton with children affected by substance misuse
2012-13 Oaklands, Chichester. Group psychotherapy. Artworks for wards
Selected Exhibitions
2025 Railway Land, Wildlife Trust, Lewes
The Paddock, Lewes
2025 Brighton festival Open Houses
2024 Let’s Create Together, Towner Gallery, Eastbourne
2023 ‘Warning Signs’ exhibition. Sweet Shop, Lewes.
Barcombe Nurseries, Plant Body Health Garden
2022 Arboreal Deities. Brighton Festival
Constellations BAMM, Chester Cathedral
2021-22 RHS Garden Show with Cultivate London, Hampton Court
2022 Ben Oakley Gallery. Collage Show
2019 Cash is King, Saatchi Gallery Group Show, London
2019 Chthonic Commons Solo Exhibition, Stillpoint Spaces, London.
2020 At the Coach House, Herbal Gardens Brighton
2017 Human Nature, Bristol and London Group exhibitions, gardens and mosaics.
2015- Temple of Growth; The Eden Project, Falmouth Art Gallery, Kew Gardens, Schumacher Gallery, 2016. University, RANE
2014 Disobedient Objects Exhibition. Treatment Rooms Collective. The Victoria and Albert Museum
2014 Riot Here, Riot Now, W3 Gallery Acton
2013 Inscape, Goldsmiths University
2010 Orleans House Gallery, London ‘Transformation’ garden sculpture with residents of Spear Homeless Hostel
2010 Renegade Potters, Inkd Gallery, Brighton. Ceramics work
2006 Victoria and Albert Museum, London. Garden sculptures celebrating the Jameel Islamic Art Gallery
Selected Educational outreach
2021 Plot 22 Growing Together, Brighton
2017-18 Summer Arts College, Youth Justice Service, Ealing Public Art. Arts Awards.
2018 Moulsecoombe School Totem Pole
2017 Bradstow Special School, Kent. Earth ovens and a Roman kiln for community events.
2015 Cogges Agricultural Museum, Oxfordshire. Creative Junction, ‘Philosophy 4 Children’
2013-14 ‘What’s Outside?’ ‘Nurture and Learning’ for families with adopted and cared for children
2013 Tomorrow Today Cobb tutor for ‘Somewhere’ Cambridge University Archaeological Dept.
2013. Ashley C of E Primary School. ‘Enquiry School’ project, Surrey. A whole- school, food growing project. Ending with a Feast of earth oven pizzas and salads
2013 St Mary’s School, Hastings and Bohemia Walled Garden, garden creation and artworks
2011 Chalgrove School, Oxford. ‘Change School’ Project. Landscaping and sculpture with community to establish a nature reserve.
2010. Potter’s Fields Park- City Hall, London Raised beds in a public park with Housing Association
2009-11 Learning for Life. Environmental Education, Stanmer Park Brighton
2010 Team London Bridge, London Planter troughs and garden at Fair St, More London
Moulscoombe Heritage and Environment festival 7m Totem Pole
2009. Tarner Park, Brighton, Inner city park commission to make artworks with Brighton Unemployment Centre
2009 St Charles School, London and Hospital. External mosaic on 50m wall, made with St , Ladbroke Grove
2008 Freda Gardham School, Rye. Creative Partnerships ‘The Field’ Art in the Environment
Selected publications
London Street Art Book, Giulia Blocal Riva, 2025
Grout. British Association of Modern Mosaic 2023
BN1 Magazine 2022
Mud and Culture summer 2023
Mosaic and Glass Feb 2022
Mosaique magazine Dec 2021
Cash is King I & II, 2018 & 2019
Soil Culture: Centre for Contemporary Art and the Natural World Clive Adams 2015
Disobedient Objects, Catherine Flood V&A Publications, 2014
AntiKnow Jakob Jakobsen 2012
The Garden RHS Magazine Sept 2012
Referees
Dominic Jones, Business Design Centre, London dominicj@bdc.london
Nic Jones, Transported Art, Lincoln University, NickJones@lincoln.ac.uk