Artist Statement

I am a Scottish, Inclusive Facilitator of the Arts. Community is at the core of everything I do and it is my passion to work with people of all ages and stages through inter - disciplinary practice, combiningart, music, movement and relaxation. As a child I grew up in a very close-knit community where I was nurtured by my family, and local people who were predominantly of an older generation. This foundation has naturally supported me to seek and create communities wherever I work as I feel most at home when connecting with others. Groups I have worked with have included adults, older adults, and children with and without learning disabilities and physical impairments. A variety of participants, reflective of our society, is important to my practice. In particular my work with the Touch Trust has further enriched my understanding of 'the Arts' and how they can be made accessible, particularly through sensory means. The enhancement of participants' wellbeing and self-confidence is an incredibly rewarding part my work.

My artwork for this exhibition explores an old folk tale about Pontypridd’s River Taff that I discovered from exploring the archives at Pontypridd Museum with Morwenna Lewis. This folk tale, once created by the locals of Pontypridd, tells the story of the River Taff’s ‘Merqueen’ who used her beauty to lure sailors into a dark whirlpool vortexat night, never to be seen again. Through the medium of virtual art tutorial videos on social media, the public have been making costumes, musical instruments and other props with me in preparation for our ‘Online Merqueen Adventure Zoom Parade’ which took place on the 16th May 2020, at 2pm. You can watch these art tutorial videos by clicking on the Facebook links below, and the full ‘Online Merqueen Adventure Zoom Parade’ can be watched here on this website.

Facebook Art Tutorials