As a former member of the band Elastica and having achieved more than I ever anticipated from music, in 2010 I made a decision to begin a long overdue degree in fine art (I graduated from Brighton University with a first class honours degree).
I like to play with juxtaposing ephemeral signs and symbols from popular culture with the bold colours and imagery of play and having fun, suggesting that these colours, shapes and patterns can mean so much more than they are. By experimenting with shape and scale, I aim to create objects reminiscent of children’s toys in their construction but also drawing on the idea of investigation into structure.
I find inspiration in the stark urban geometry of Brutalist architecture, concrete bunkers and the brightly coloured building blocks of childhood along with the ‘cut-outs’ of Matisse, the printing of Sister Corita Kent and a new found passion in exotic plants.
I also work in the costume department in the film industry, having recently worked on The Marvels, Napoleon and Steve McQueens Blitz (2024). I play synth with the band Aircooled and create their artwork.
I live with my husband and 2 little dachshunds in St Leonards and together we share a space at Compendium Studios in the town.
Represented by;; Stella Dore, Liberty, Neighbourhood Store, Electric Gallery, 11:Eleven, Austin Print Boutique and Aunt Joy. I am an associate artist at Common Clay.
My work is also available at Affordable Art Fairs worldwide
My work at Casa Lu;
The residency at Casa Lu gave me time to explore process, personal emotion and the influence of Mexico City, in particular the symbolism of Mexican altars; where death is celebrated with offerings that welcome back the souls of the dead. I wanted the two pieces to symbolise how I dealt with the sudden death of my Mum.
Sometimes seemingly frivolous, each individual has to create an understanding of the world by learning from personal loss and the grief that follows. The assumed narrative ends and the future is rewritten
The leopard signifies strength, female power and isolation. A guardian of the dead she escorts them into the next realm. She is a spirit guide and appears after a period of intense suffering
Quilting evokes physical warmth, connection to family, and personal reminders of childhood craft making. The physicality of making can be healing and perhaps a way to channel sorrow?
The work was an experiment in technique and theme; how do we process grief?
Exhibitions (and other stuff)
FOLDE - An Exhibition of Contemporary Works Exploring Clay, Hastings Observer Building (7 September - 11 September 2023)
Bottle Alley Art Market(BAAM), (August Bank Holiday Saturday 2023)
Textile Junction - Group Textile Exhibition, Electro Studios, St Leonards on Sea (14 July - 23 July 2023)
6 week Artist in Residence at Casa Lu in Mexico City, culminating in a group show ‘Unstable’ on 28 April 2023
Artwork for the band Aircooled for their Album cover & also a collaboration with Shuby for their EP cover
Defaced! Money Conflict Protest - Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge (11 Oct - 8 Jan 2023)
Women of Mass Distraction - Stella Dore Group Show, St Leonards on Sea (5 March - 6 April 2022)
Who Run the World? The art of brilliant women - Electric Gallery, London (3 March - 2 April 2022)
Hastings Pride - Trinity Townhouse, Hastings (13 August - 13 September 2021)
Nice little write up in Hasting Independent Press all about my ceramics!
Are Friends Electric? - Espacio Gallery Group Show, Shoreditch London (21 June - 27 June 2021)
Splash - Paxton+Glew Group Show, Brighton (12 June - 14 July 2021)
My first ever screen print release! (April 2021 - And its 11 layers too)
Wonderlush - Paxton+Glew Group Show, Brighton (12 March - 21 April 2021)
Artist in Residence - Casa Lu, Mexico City (11 July - 23 August 2020. POSTPONED until 2023). Myself and 4 other artists from around the world accepted to be part of this residency
Find a Place You Trust: Stella Dore solo show (opening on 3 July 2020 - POSTPONED) A window sculpture was installed for the duration of lockdown
Flatlands Projects x Common Clay presents: Gathering Container - Group Ceramic Show, Source BMX Park, Hastings (18 January - 30 January 2020)
Notivaty - Stella Dore Christmas Group Show, St Leonards on Sea (29 November - 15 Jan 2020)
Cash is King - The Saatchi Gallery, London (21 August - 8 September 2019) I was also included in the accompanying book for the show
Women of Mass Distraction - Stella Dore, all female Group show celebrating International Women’s Day 2019, St Leonards on Sea (7 March - 6 April 2019)
Notivaty - Stella Dore Christmas Group Show, St leonards on Sea (29 November - 12 Jan 2019)
Everything is (re)arranged (solo show)- The St Leonard, St Leonards on Sea (5 September - 28 November 2018)
East Sussex Open - Towner Gallery, Eastbourne (23 July - 25 September 2016)
Free Range Degree Show – Truman Brewery, London (2 July – 6 July 2015) Selected by the Art Retail Network as one of the top 20 artists out of the entire Summer degree shows for 2015
Secret 7's - Somerset House, London (10 April – 4 May 2015)
Exchange - Pallant House, Chichester (23 April – 19 May 2013)