Bio:
From a young age I was fascinated by the glamour of Hollywood and the Golden Age of cinema. I was drawn to old movies and beautiful stars such as Garbo, Harlow and Dietrich - a glorious escape from my reality of a small town in Scotland. Their images in films and in gorgeous studio portraits by the likes of Hurrell would captivate me but also contrast with scandalous stories that I would read about them in gossip magazines, salacious biographies and my ultimate favourite - Kenneth Anger’s ‘Hollywood Babylon’. These contradictions were fascinating to me and something that drives the work I create today as I aim to show different sides to a subject. Using mixed media I build up a portrait with collage, painting and drawing, and mix different techniques to create a layered and textured artwork. Having drawn and painted every day until I left home at 18, I then had a long period where I didn’t touch a pencil (or brush) and in that time I did various things - business analyst, insurance clerk, sandwich maker, computer programmer - but around 2010 I got back together again with art and reignited my passion for creating. In 2013 I went to Camberwell College of Arts, London, to do a Printmaking MA, and since graduating from there a year later I have been working as a full-time professional artist. I live and work in south east London. Solo Exhibitions: Fabulous! The Art Of Camp - The Coningsby Gallery, London, July 2019 The Club - The Framers Gallery, London, September - October 2016 Spring Fling Showcase - Gracefield Arts Centre, Dumfries, Scotland, May - June 2016 Secret Garden - The Framers Gallery, London, December 2015 Vague - The Framers Gallery, London, April - May 2015 The Gathering - The Gallery at Gateshead Library, Gateshead, November 2014 - January 2015 The Gathering - The Crypt Gallery, London, May 2014 Group Exhibitions: Art Maze - Bargehouse, Oxo Tower Wharf, London, Oct 2022 Taking Pride in Art - Capital Group, London, July 2022 Queer Bodies / Diverse Minds - Estudi Vidal, Sitges, Spain, June 2021 Taking Pride in Art - Capital Group, London, February 2020 Subasta Solidaria de Arte - Agora 3, Sitges, Spain, June 2019 British LGBT Awards - The Library, London, December 2018 British LGBT Awards - Salt and Pegram, London, May 2018 Roy's People Art Fair - Bargehouse, Oxo Tower Wharf, London, April 2018 Finest Artists - La Galleria, Pall Mall, London, December 2017 Free - Clerkenwell Gallery, London, September 2017 (co-organiser) FLUX 2017 - Chelsea College of Arts, London, July 2017 A Free Moment - gallery@oxo, Oxo Tower Wharf, London, June 2017 FLUX 2016 - Old Truman Brewery, London, November 2016 FPS Members Exhibition - Menier Gallery, London, June 2015 FPS Open 2014 - Menier Gallery, London, December 2014 (selected) Making A Mark - Leyden Gallery, London, October 2014 (co-organiser) National Open Art - Somerset House, London, 2014 (shortlisted) Postcards From The Edge - Juxtaposed Gallery, London, August 2014 Salon des Refuses - Dog Eared Studio, London, July 2014 Summer Exhibition - Royal Academy, London, 2014 (shortlisted) Stonewall Summer Party - Kensington Roof Gardens, London, June 2014 Missing Narrative - Menier Gallery, London, June 2014 Works on Paper - Brick Lane Gallery, London, March 2014 Without Boundaries - Menier Gallery, London, December 2013 Open #29 - CPG, London, November 2013 Ben Cohen StandUp Foundation Charity Auction - Corinthia Hotel, London, October 2013 Arts in the Clarts - Dunscore, Scotland, September 2013 MA Final Show - Camberwell College of Art, London, September 2013 (Zenith Award winner) Proof - Brixton East, London, May 2013 Breathe - Nolias Gallery, London, May 2013 DIS/PLAY II - Camberwell College of Art, London, March 2013 DIS/PLAY I - Camberwell College of Art, London 2012 CLFA Final Show - City Lit, London 2012 |
