Screen printing has been my passion for over 25 years, starting with setting up my first print studio in my garage when my daughter was just a wee toddler. This kick started an extensive career as a textile artist and has led to sharing my skills in many workshops over the years.
Being a textile artist has been an ever-evolving journey for me, enhanced by overseas travel that has enriched my visual palette, reflected in my screen printed designs.
I have been a tertiary visual arts tutor at NMIT in Nelson, working as course coordinator in a bespoke course, titled Costume Design for Film, Theatre and Television. As well as running the programme I specialized in costume history and textile manipulation, including screen printing.
I have also sold my textiles at the Nelson Market and many other outlets, as well as operating a small retail business titled Gorgeous, selling hand printed textiles and clothing. These business experiences have enabled me to offer numerous tricks of the trade when teaching screen printing workshops.
After graduating with a Diploma of Fine Arts from Canterbury University, I then trained as a visual arts tutor, working firstly in schools, then tertiary institutions and in adult education.
As a textile artist my work has spanned designing fashion garments and homeware, sewing and retailing my work locally and in Australia.
I have been a finalist in the World of Wearable Art (WOW) Awards 8 times and won a section award. I also have costume awards from competitions in Hobart, Australia and Auckland and studied and worked in the film industry in New Zealand.
After spending 2 years teaching in the Cook Islands recently, my practice is now more about screen printing onto paper, with a tropical influence. I have also returned to my art school specialist training of sculpture making.
I’ve travelled extensively and been involved in many exhibitions over the years, from a group show titled Kaleidescope in Fremantle, Western Australia to a solo show Titled Lines in Brunei, Borneo Island. I was also Artist in Residence at the Tuapapata Arts Centre in Samoa and a regular exhibitor in group shows with other tutorial staff at NMIT in Nelson. I exhibited with two other NZ Textile Experiences tutors recently in a show titled Overlap, held at the Heaphy Winery gallery in the Nelson region. Here I showed screen printed works on paper, plus sculptural pieces that had been laser cut in steel and acrylic.
The most recent exhibition I exhibited in was Bay Art in Takaka in October 2023, where I showed a screen print on paper and sculptures in acrylic and steel.
What is it about my tutoring location/workshop that will make the experience interesting? Located in my large quirky shed, (it used to be a cross fit gym) surrounded by a huge garden with friendly ducks and chooks and the Motupipi Stream just over the fence, there’s no shortage of inspiration for design ideas, right on the doorstep.
Length of workshops: Usually 2 days, depending on the workshop. See individual workshops for length of time.
