Sue in Oak tree

Biography

After leaving school at 15 and working in industry for 6 years, I did a Foundation Course in Art & Design at Mid-Cheshire College of Art and Design in Northwich, and subsequently did a 3-year Textile Design Diploma course at Derby Lonsdale College. On completion of my course in the early 1980s I moved to Wales to work in Laura Ashley's textile design studio, for most of the time as Senior Colourist on the dressware print collections.

I left Laura Ashley in 1991 to do a Post-Graduate Diploma in ‘Studio Studies - Painting and Printmaking’ at the School of Art, University of Wales, Aberystwyth.

I have exhibited in art centres, galleries, in Wales & England, and have spent a week as Artist in Residence at the ‘Nature in Art’ gallery in Twigworth, Gloucestershire.

I have undertaken many commissions, for both individuals and commercial companies, producing paintings, banners and surface-pattern designs for wrapping paper. I enjoy experimenting with different materials, both traditional and contemporary.

As a workshop leader I have worked for many organisations, including Oriel Davies Gallery in Newtown, Arts Care, Celfogwmpas in Llandrindod Wells, Compton’s Yard Trust in Llanidloes, and Community Arts Rhayader and District (CARAD), delivering workshops and recently as project manager for a ‘Youth in Action’ project that included producing public art in Llanidloes. I have collaborated with the Dragon Collective, a Wales-based music and arts organisation, on many projects since 1996.

Alongside developing my own work, I am a home tutor for art, design and textiles through ‘People Services’ for Powys County Council, and am currently available for mentoring.

Amongst the artists whose work I find inspiring are Howard Hodgkins, Kandinsky and Escher.


Links to organisations mentioned above :

Nature in Art  |   Oriel Davies  |   Arts Care  |   Celfogwmpas  |   Compton's Yard Trust  |   CARAD  |  
Dragon Collective  |   Youth In Action  |