Workshops

Alongside studies and vintage markets I am still taking on arts workshops so if anyone has any queries regarding art / craft projects or classes please drop me a line to discuss workshop opportunities.

I will be at The Ashcroft Arts Centre, Fareham on Wednesday 10th April running a morning of prop making as part of the 'Make a Fairytale' children's workshops.

I will also be at The Ashcroft on Tuesday 24th April 7.15 - 9.15pm for an evening of grown up crafts as part of the Monthly Make Program where we will be making recycled paper landscapes.

http://peo.hants.gov.uk/peo/default.asp?salepoint=2&interface=2&cgCode=5  

Recent Illustration commissions....

 After meeting the lovely Daryl and Gareth of Vintage and Very Nice www.vintageandverynice.co.uk

I have been involved in the 'Vintage and Very Nice Market Bazaar' held at The Assembly Rooms, Chichester every month.

After designing their poster, I took up stall spaces at the January and recent Easter markets to flog my wares. These include a new range of driftwood jewellery, brooches and hanging decorations. Watch this space for more pics and the new designs I'm working on for the VVN Wedding Fair.

Where the magic happens...

This is my new home......

Where have you been?! What pray tell have you been doing?!.......

........ I hear you ask :-) Ok so long story short..

In October I was offered a very last minute place on the Furniture Conservation course at West Dean College near Chichester and have been studying full time and living on site since then. This incredible opportunity means that I currently spend my days elbow deep in sawdust and antique furniture as my training to become a furniture conservator.

Everything else has been put on a back burner but I am now attempting to update my news and let you know what else I've been up to. Below are a few of the things I have made so far at West Dean........

MONTHLY MAKES @ The Ashcroft Arts Centre

Last night's September Monthly Make, creating felt posies, went well. The next one I'm running is Tuesday 13th November when we'll be making a memory / story hanging with vintage papers.

Check out my offering from yesterday (unfinished alas) and a sneak preview of what we will be making in November.

In other news, I have five sets of buttons up for grabs in the shop so go to www.etsy.com/shop/BrokenBirdHospital to have a gander.

Bournemouth Pier

Recent birthday commission for friend and top Bournemouth surfer Alex Smith.

Buttons!.......

I spent a very relaxing weekend in the sun sifting through this amazing collection of vintage buttons to sort them into gorgeous sets. Here is the selection on offer and I will endeavor to get as many of them into the shop www.etsy.com/shop/brokenbirdhospital

as fast as possible.................

EXCITING CAPS LOCK NEWS!!

I found out last week that I have been accepted onto the Furniture Making and Restoration Practices program at West Dean College. I will be starting this term and am super excited to get started. Watch this space for tales of West Dean and images of the pieces I will be working with.

The Summer

The blog has been quiet (ok silent) over the summer but August has been busy as well as sunny.
Two weeks were spent at City of Portsmouth Girls' School in Portsmouth where I worked alongside Sara Scott (of Orange Apples fame) and Emma Boniface to deliver a two week summer school program for Bigfoot Arts Education.

A fun, hectic, tiring, rewarding, creative fortnight was had by the young people and leaders so thank you to everyone!

New prints for sale at Broken Bird Hospital.....

Here are the latest offerings at     www.etsy.com/shop/BrokenBirdHospital

These are all giclee prints of sketchbook drawings and collages and are each signed and editioned 1/1
The lighthouse collage, "Attention Shallow Water", has been sold already.

NEW WORK IN MY SHOP.....

I have finally gotten round to adding some new bits to Broken Bird Hospital (my etsy shop).

 www.etsy.com/shop/BrokenBirdHospital

The new additions are all one of a kind screen prints with hand drawn details in pencil and biro, making them totally unique and absolute bargains, ranging in price from £4 - 6. They are the result of an experimental afternoon at Badger Press ( R.I.P.) and so are imperfect, (hence the pocket money prices) but will none the less brighten up a rainy day.

Where have I been I hear you ask?

The more observant amongst you may have noticed my absence from this blog and also from my shop (which is now back in action!)

Recently, I have been exploring my options in regards to branching out from art and illustration and was lucky enough to be awarded one of  25 bursary funded places on a Conservation of Historical Objects taster weekend at West Dean College.

It was an incredible opportunity to explore a career swerve into conservation and making of furniture, clocks, books, metal or ceramics. As a teen I had a keen interest in history and archaeology but chose to pursue the other fork in the road and study art instead so it was interesting to see how my interests have come full circle and led me back to historical objects.

Watch this space for future news..........

More from the O'Hooley and Tidow Commission

With the release of O'Hooley and Tidow's new album 'The Fragile' just a month away here are a few more of the images created for the CD booklet, to whet your appetite!

Munich Holiday Snaps!

Over the festive season my blog, shop and twitter fell silent as I escaped to snowier climes for a little pre-christmas break. Here are a few pics from Munich and Kochelle (the home of the fabulous Franz Marc Art Museum).

The Gluwein flowed and the snow fell as we made the most of pretzels, currywurst (not me!), art and christmas markets.

A Christmas mini commission for a party invitation

A day of screen printing........

... and here are the results. Alas! One day is never enough so watch this space for some finished screen prints in the near future!

V&A Illustration Awards 2012

Check out my entry for the V&A Illustration Awards 2012 at

http://www.vam.ac.uk/projects/va-illustration-awards-2012/published/book-illustrations/artwork-cd-
album-entitled-fragile-ohooley-a

Other exciting news...........

I have just seen the finished cover (including text) for "The Fragile" by O'Hooley & Tidow. Go to

www.ohooleyandtidow.com    to pre-order your copy now! The album will be released on No Masters in February 2012

New work resulting from my eagerly anticipated day in studio!

Thanks to the pension strikes I had most of the day to myself, finally! Here are a few things I have been working on......... Now if someone will kindly buy some art I can stop worrying about my lack of a pension!

O'Hooley and Tidow release "The Last Polar Bear"

So the story begins back in the summer. Whilst dog sitting in lovely Suffolk I received an email from Belinda and Heidi Aka folk duo O'Hooley & Tidow asking whether I might be interested in illustrating their second album "The Fragile", a follow up to their critically acclaimed debut "Silent June".

"Hoorah!" and "Of Course!" I replied and now many months later the first stunning single "The Last Polar Bear" has been released.

                                                        www.ohooleyandtidow.com

Folk Radio described O'Hooley and Tidow's unique sound better than I can so you can expect to hear.....

     Haunting piano, soaring strings and warm harmonies which combine beautifully. These dapper-suited    gentlewomen have an unconventional, wryly observant, melancholic and sometimes uncomfortable take                on life; creating their very own brand of contemporary folk song.

CHECK OUT THE VIDEO (and my illustrations!) HERE; http://youtu.be/92a0s0Ry_hY

DOWNLOAD THE SINGLE HERE; http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00632SKEW


OR HERE; http://itunes.apple.com/album/the-last-polar-bear-single/id477514997?v0=9988&ign-mpt=uo%3D1



"The Fragile" is due for release in February 2012 on No Masters.

I'm super proud to have been involved in this project so please help us promote it by tweeting, blogging,  shouting and generally spreading the word!

Stay tuned for more artwork images, tour dates, future single releases  xx