More than a painter/ educator...
Like many artists, I have secondary artforms. At the age of 26, when my painting began to take on an overly colourful and animated appearance I decided to divert this interest. My painting became stiller and my cartooning and animation interests emerged. For years this sideline interest seemed confusing but over time I saw this as belonging to my educational side and indeed, I began to develop different character worlds that could teach different messages or link to workshop programs
Book and film development
Series 1
This was the first of my character property series. Originally it was designed to teach about nature discover and protection. The original characters were made from recycled packaging. In 2006 I received £10,000 private investment support to develop concept short stories around the character and to progress the series further.
In 2021, I developed wellbeing workshop which was delivered to families at Edenbridge Children;s Centre. The activity involved story time using one of the books that I had written, a healthy eating food taste challenge, arts and crafts plus a takehome goody bag.
Series 2
The setting/world for this series has been inspired by Kent and the coastal locations where I have lived: Whitstable and Margate. I'm hoping to also weave Canterbury into the scenes.
Being coastal themed this series sits well with my coatal paintings. In the short term, I'm looking to progress a couple of pictures books and to develop arts and crafts workshops which fit with the sustainability theming.
I've currently got the germ of an idea for a couple of animation films again themed on sustainability. Prior to this I'd like to develop stop motion tests...
Series 3
This series inspires my plant based paintings and conceptual art pieces and whole workshop programs whilst also conveying my main artists message.
This project could lead out from exhibitions or further book development.
Junior Go Create is currently being set up to deliver workshops that could bounce from either.
Aspects of this project are being progressed in collaboration with writer Tony Cato. I'm hoping that in time it will lead to exhibits and books and innovating teaching methods.
