Creative ID: 645
New Plymouth, Oakura
My arts or creative practice (including details about my specific focus within that art form/practice and my strengths)
I am an established studio jeweller and enamel artist and have a home studio from which I design, make, and run short courses for adults and children. My expertise is in vitreous enamelling on the jewellery scale. I have worked in this field since graduating in 1991 and emigrating to NZ.
My work was shown at The Dowse Art Museum as part of the Suffrage exhibition in the early 1990s. I was one of the initial artists exhibiting at Avid Gallery in Wellington and had regular showcases there until 2019. I have been featured in Next magazine and The Shed magazine.
As well as enamelling, I design and make silver jewellery using a range of techniques such as printing and forming. In recent times I have been developing my silversmithing skills and raising small scale metal vessels. My work is inspired by nature, through the colours, forms, shapes and textures I use. I also love process and like to explore what a particular material or technique will reveal to me, ideas often occurring through the practice of making.
My track record of experience and success - or the track record of experience and success of the creative or artist that I will partner with
I have a BA(Hons) in three-dimensional design (metals) from West Surrey College of Art and Design, UK, 1991 and spent two years in Dusseldorf, Germany, studying gold and silversmithing design and manufacture. I have exhibited widely in NZ over the years, for example – Avid gallery, Wellington, Masterworks gallery Auckland, Kina Gallery New Plymouth – but less so since doing my graduate diploma of Teaching in 2008. I am one of the artists who set up a local arts trail in 2003 – we run a 2-week open studio event every spring.
Describe the experience you have had working with children or young people, teaching or facilitating creative processes
I did my Diploma of Teaching in 2008 and have been working as a technology teacher in intermediate and high schools for the last 12 years, so have experience working with students in a school environment, be it in a technology workshop, or improvised set-up in a classroom. I have introduced many students to jewellery and enamelling in schools, and set up the facilities to do so, depending on the available resources. I have access to specialised knowledge and equipment that I can lease out (e.g., enamelling kiln) but also have strong community connections in terms of accessing recycled materials such as electrical (copper) cables.
This year I have returned to my studio part time and supplement this practice with work as a relief teacher. I am a creative and positive person and enjoy teaching. I would be happy to co-construct a project for a school for students of any age and stage.
Why I want to be part of the Creatives in Schools programme and how my involvement will link to my creative practice
I would enjoy sharing my skills locally and to be supported to do so through the Creatives in Schools programme. My experience tells me people of all ages love the opportunity to experience hands-on projects. They develop a much greater awareness of materials, design, process, and creativity which leads to a much greater appreciation for handmade objects and design, be they contemporary or historical.
I often find that individuals who learn in a more tactile and creative way gain self-confidence when they experience the opportunity to take part in a hands-on creative project. Since community education was disbanded it is very difficult for people to afford to attend privately run workshops, and for creatives to survive by self-funding tools, equipment, time, and space. Being able to have a funded programme benefits everyone.