Artist Statement

I love to dabble, experimenting playfully with many materials and methods. For many years my creative activities were a hobby and welcome antidote to my work as an academic vascular surgeon. I have a long-standing interest in photography, processing my own black and white film before moving on to digital techniques to capture challenging images, such as water droplets, using electronic sensors and timers. In the 1990’s, inspired by my partner’s artistic practice, I started experimenting with sculpture in clay and stone and was drawn to creating three-dimensional figurative and abstract works. As a perpetual student I attended workshops in pottery and stone carving, subsequently learning to weld and adding metalwork to my repertoire. After retiring from clinical practice in 2011, I undertook a foundation course in art at Chesterfield College, followed by an MA in fine art at Sheffield Hallam University. These courses allowed me to develop new skills and explore a variety of techniques, as well as fostering an interest in art-based research methods. Alongside these courses I continued my healthcare related research at the University of Sheffield, with my scientific interests in decision science, computer modelling, simulation and programming informing a series of multimedia, digital and animated works. Joining Sheffield Hackspace some years ago, I explored new techniques and discovered the joy of woodturning. Having bought a second-hand lathe and enjoyed many hours making a range of functional and decorative turned objects, I have recently returned to creating three-dimensional abstract and figurative sculptural works in metal, stone, wood and mixed media.