I am one of the flexible tutors for the BA Creative Arts course, an interdisciplinary designer, collaborator and educator with over 24 years experience. Although my own practice began in textile design, I have taught into, and led programmes in Creative Arts, Art & Design, Design Crafts, Art Business, Entrepreneurship & Employability, Project Management, and Textile Design.
My design practice began with a BA in Printed Textiles (Loughborough University), which led me into freelance print and embroidery design for interior markets, and I have been creative lead for a bespoke furniture business since 2010.
I also hold an MA in Creative & Media Enterprise from Warwick University, which formed the basis of research around the nature of employment for designer-makers, specifically examining the definitions of ‘professional’ and ‘amateur’, and whether these are useful labels. I also carried out research into the specific shape and nature of the creative industries and the management of intellectual property. This research fed into the role of National Crafts Adviser at the Women’s Institute where I was tasked with modernising craft in the WI. Key projects included a collaboration with Kingston University’s BA Fashion Knitwear course. Students co-created garments with WI members, this intergenerational skill sharing project culminated in a celebration of the centenary of the WI in the Royal Albert Hall.
Over my career, I have held a range of academic roles as Senior Lecturer, Course Director and Academic Lead for Employability and Mobility. Along with a strong belief in play and risk taking through making and thinking, my research around employability has formed the basis of innovative programmes and curriculum, specifically in entrepreneurship, employability and business for creative practitioners.]
You can see some of my work here.
