creative Statement
I am a writer and visual artist working in textiles and acrylics. I create with textiles, acrylics and text, making art and writing essays and short fiction. I coach creative people looking to transform their lives, maximise their creativity and to have an impact on the world. I am based in Merseyside, UK
I am interested in graffiti and asemic text, the psychology of creativity and transformation and my art often references social justice issues.
I often work by bringing small pieces together into a new cohesive whole. In my visual art this results in quilt like collages of textile or paper. In my writing this shows up as braided or lyric essays with seemingly disparate stories or topics finally coming together to give a new viewpoint.
This way of working reflects both my background in traditional quilting, and my former profession as a solicitor, then barrister and finally Judge in the Family Court where I worked with broken families to make a new more hopeful future. Likewise, as a coach I help people bring together their different ideas, experiences and skills to create a more cohesive life and a greater impact.
CURRICULUM VITAE
ART WORK
SOLO SHOWS:
2023 Language Lessons Gallery 1889, Liverpool, UK.
2016 The Monte Camino story Stockport War Memorial Art Gallery, UK
2016 Urban Scrawl View Two Gallery, Liverpool, UK
TWO PERSON SHOWS
2018 Traces The World of Glass, St.Helens, UK
2019 Fragments Stockport War Memorial Art Gallery, Stockport, UK
GROUP SHOWS:
2024 Artx, Menorah Synagogue, Manchester.
2019 Liverpool Art Fair Liverpool Waterfront, UK
2018 The Art Of The Print Dot Art, Liverpool, UK
2017 The Liverpool Collection Dot Art, Liverpool, UK
2017 The Last Picture Show View Two Gallery, Liverpool, UK
2018 Transitions By Etcetera Stockport War Memorial Art Gallery, UK
2016 6th European Quilt Triennial 2016
Textilsammlung Max Berk /Kurpfälzisches Museum, Heidelberg ,Textil Museum, St Gallen and Festival of Quilts, UK, 2016
2015 Transitions By Etcetera Rydale Folk Museum Ryedale Folk Museum, North Yorkshire, and Platform Gallery, Station Road, Clitheroe
TWELVE BY TWELVE EXHIBITION TOUR:
2014 European Patchwork Meeting/Carrefour Européen du Patchwork (Colourplay)
Association Belge du Patchwork exhibition (Colourplay)
2013 Midsomer Quilting, Chilcompton, UK (Colourplay)
AQS Quilt Show, Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA (Colourplay)
North West Quilting Expo, Portland, Oregon, USA (2012 Series)
2012 International Quilt Festival, Cincinnati, USA (Theme Series and Colourplay)
International Quilt Festival, Long Beach, USA (Theme Series and Colourplay)
North West Quilting Expo, Portland, Oregon, USA (Theme Series and Colourplay)
Craft & Quilt Fair, Palmerston North, New Zealand (Colourplay)
Australasian Quilt Convention. Melbourne, Australia (Colourplay)
Pinnacles Gallery, Townsville Australia (Colourplay)
AQS Quilt Show, Des Moines, Iowa, USA (Colourplay)
2011 Midsomer Quilting, Chilcompton, UK (Theme Series)
Festival of Quilts, Birmingham, UK (Theme Series)
International Quilt Festival, Houston, USA (Theme Series and Colourplay)
2010 Australasian Quilt Convention, Melbourne, Australia (Theme Series)
Gosford Regional Gallery, NSW Australia (Theme Series)
Textile Art Festival, Brisbane, Queensland (Theme Series)
Craft & Quilt Fair, Hamilton, New Zealand (Theme Series)
Craft & Quilt Fair, Christchurch, NZ (Theme Series)
GRANTS:
2024 Recipient of an Arts Council England (ACE) Developing Your Creative Practice Grant
PUBLIC COLLECTIONS:
My work is in the collection of the International Quilt Museum Nebraska USA
BOOKS:
My work features in:
Twelve by Twelve, The International Art Quilt Challenge – Sterling Publishing, New York, 2011
Africa Wax Print: A Textile Journey, Magie Relph and Bob Irwin – Words and Pixels 2010
Colorplay – Twelve by Twelve the International Art Quilt Challenge – Independently published, 2015
WRITING
1986 to date
I have written eleven legal books, five traditionally published and six through my own imprint Law for Families.
I have authored hundreds of articles in both legal specialist journals and high street publications ranging from The Times through to British Patchwork and Quilting magazine. Currently I am a freelance editor for Lexis Nexis Publishing. My most recent poetry and lyric essays have been featured in Vita Poetica and Rising Phoenix Review literary magazines.
My Substack Newsletter ‘Encore’ provides regular thoughtful, long form articles about living creatively in the half of life. It is available here.
EDUCATION
CPD
2023-4 Short Courses: Letterpress workshop, Complete Collagraphy, Lyric Essay writing, Confident Composition, Art 2 Life Alumni member
2022 Creative Visionary Programme
2022 Advanced Creative Coaching course with Eric Maisel
2019 Diploma Personal Development Coaching Academy
QUALIFICATIONS
2022 PG Cert Psychosynthesis and Leadership Coaching, University of Middlesex
2013 MA Writing Studies, University of Lancaster
1992 M.Phil Criminology , University of Cambridge
1991 LLB, Bachelor of Law, University of Hull
PREVIOUS CAREER
My first career was in law. I specialized in family law, as well as working in the field of political asylum cases. Starting as a solicitor I requalified as a Barrister and was a frequent conference speaker and CPD trainer including tutoring at the University of Liverpool. In 2005 I became a part time Judge and in 2010 became a full time District Judge sitting in the County Court, Family Court and Court of Protection whilst also establishing my art studio and practice. I retired from the judiciary early in 2020, spent some time focusing on caring for a family member and lecturing, with a specialism in soft skills and wellbeing issue for lawyers. I now focus completely on my life as a coach, artist, writer and editor.
Shall we stay in touch?
I write a regular message to fellow creators to inspire and make you think about your own creativity.
I also update you about my own creative process and latest projects.
Just let me know where to send it in the box below. If you prefer, you can choose to read me in the Substack app instead.