I'm delighted to have been awarded funding from Arts Council England as part of their Developing Your Creative Practice programme.
The DYCP programme gives artists the precious gift of time - time to explore and play, test out new ideas, and develop your practice. I'll be using my DYCP to research and learn heritage basketry techniques to develop a new body of contemporary willow sculptural works. This grant has come at the perfect time for me, as I now feel settled in my studio, and have a growing sense of vision and momentum for my future artistic practice.
With huge thanks to The New Art Gallery Walsall for their mentorship and support with my application following my artist residency with them last summer. And to Arts Council England for giving me this incredible opportunity.
Mini, midi, maxi
I've got tons of ideas which have been bubbling away in my mind over the past year, and I'm now able to start trying them out. First off, a set of three basket vase sculptures: a mini, a midi and a maxi. They follow the same form and weaving technique, but I've experimented with different willow combinations and scales.
I'll be sharing more updates on my DYCP over the coming months, including upcoming exhibitions and specialist training in endangered heritage basketry techniques that I'm currently planning.