Originally from the highlands of Scotland I travelled south to study Visual Arts (specialising in animation) at the Edinburgh College of Art in 1995.
After graduating in 1999 I went on to work on a number of short animation film productions that featured at world-wide festivals, with air time on the BBC and Channel Four. I also worked on numerous animation film projects with children, some of which went on to pick up awards including the Engage Scotland Visual Arts Education Award for Improving Mental Health and Well-being/2005.
In 2007 I completed an animation residency based at the Highland Print Studio in Inverness and since then my work began to focus much more on printmaking, and in particular working with the processes of dry point etching and mono-printing.
My work often features a central character who has a story to tell and having a background as an animator has richly enhanced how I approach drawing. When I am creating images, I try to press the 'pause' button at the optimal moment and I often find myself thinking about how my characters would move, how they would sound, and how they would respond to the situation I'm putting them in. Sometimes I need to act out a character for research purposes! Capturing a sense of moment, feeling, and personality within a single image is challenging but so incredibly rewarding. Creating work that can make people smile, or reflect, and transport them somewhere beyond the ‘now’, is what drives me.
Awards and Funding:
Picturehooks 2017 Finalist. Paired with the author and illustrator Debi Gliori for one year, developing children picture book in preparation for touring exhibition and book publisher event.
Artist in Residence. Highland Print Studio. Inverness. May 2007 to August 2007.
Engage Scotland Visual Arts Education Award for Improving Mental Health and Well-being, for workshop film’ Stressed Out’ Leader of project at the charity Fairbridge in conjunction with RedKite Productions. 2005.
Winner of ‘Best Children's Film’ at the International Festival of Animation, for short workshop film ‘Joeys Adventure’ Leader of project with primary school children from Ayshire in conjunction with Redkite Productions. Ottawa 2003.
Winner of ‘Spirit of Moondance Animation Award’ Moondance Film festival. (for film ‘Lunar Jig’) 2002.
Awarded £12,500 from both the National Lottery and Channel Four to direct and animate short film ‘Lunar Jig’. 2001.
Exhibitions:
Picturehooks' Finalist. Selection of eight new works on tour during 2018, debut show at Gallery of Modern Art One, Belford road. Edinburgh Oct 2017 - touring UK during 2018/19.
Selected works part of the 'Drawing and Etching' exhibition at Fidra Gallery, North Berwick, 45 Dirleton Avenue. February 3rd to 12th March. 2017
Selected works in mixed show at Hecla Gallery, Cockenzie House & Gardens. February 3rd to the 30th April 2017.
McNaughtan's Bookshop and Gallery. Edinburgh. October 03/10/16 to 24/12/16
Selected works in group show ‘Beetles, Bugs and Birds’ Artichoke Gallery, East Sussex. Summer 2015.
Solo exhibition ‘From Story to Story’ Eden Court Theatre. Inverness. January to February 2012.
Solo exhibition ‘From Story to Story’ funded and co-ordinated by the Highland Council. Iona Gallery Kingussie; St Fergus Gallery Wick and Swanson Gallery Thurso. Summer 2011.
Selected works included in the ‘Visual Arts Scotland’ exhibitions at the National Gallery Scotland. Edinburgh. 2010, 2011 and 2012
Solo exhibition ‘From Story to Story’. Howden Park Centre. Livingston. September to December 2010.
Selected works in group show ‘A Finer Line’, Mainhill gallery Ancrum. October 2009.
Animation Film Work:
ASSISTANT ANIMATOR on ‘The Tannery.’ Six minute hand drawn animation film. Funded by Channel 4, Scottish Screen and the UK Film Council. Best Animation CFC Worldwide Short Film Festival, Toronto 2011, Celtic Media Festival Best Animation 2011 Animated Exeter Audience Award, 2nd Prize Independent Talent 2011. Film Created in 2009/10
ASSISTANT ARTWORKER on ‘The Faery Wind’. Six minute hand drawn animation film. Funded by the Irish Arts Council. Film Created in 2004
ASSISTANT ANIMATOR AND ARTWORKER on ‘The Skeleton Woman’. Six minute hand drawn animation. Funded by Annecy International Animation Festival and the Irish Arts Council and Canal +. Best Animation Galway Film Fleadh. Film Created in 2003.
DIRECTOR ‘Lunar Jig.’ Three minute hand drawn animation. Funded by Channel Four and The Scottish Arts Council. Film screened on Channel Four September 2001. Selected for DVD of Short Films for Children, Holland 2003. Screened Edinburgh International Film Festival, Leuven Film Festival, Toronto Film Festival, Animamundi Film Festival (Brasil) 2002, Chicago Childrens International Film Festival 2003, Brussels Animation Film Festiva 2002. Film created in 2001.
ARTWORKER ON ‘The Green Man’. Twelve minute hand drawn animation. Commissioned by S4C as part of their forthcoming series ‘The Animated Tales of the World’ 1999-2000. Winner of the Jim Poole Award 2000 and Scottish Bafta Nominee. Film Created in 2000.
DIRECTOR OF ‘The Lost Note’. Six minute hand drawn animation completed at E.C.A. Screenings include The International Film Festival of Edinburgh. International Film Festival of Ottawa. Film Created in 1999.
Teaching:
Part time tutor. Animation department, Edinburgh College of Art. From 2008 to present date.
P/T visiting lecturer to First Year Studies and the Animation Degree Course, Duncan Jordanstone College of Art. 2007 to 2009.
Moving Image Workshop Leader for children and adults. Completed over 30 workshops with various schools, including working in Sweden with a Scottish/Swedish film school exchange trip. Leading animation project alongside an exchange visit with school puplis to Poland. Listed in the ‘Teaching for Excellence’ 2009 Booklet circulated to Schools across Scotland. Workshops taking place from 2000 to present date.