Welcome to 'Batik Explorations' which is here as a platform to share both my own batik work and that of my many students.
My own art journey began aged 16 when I went moved from school to begin a 2 year Foundation in Art at the local art school in Merseyside. After that, I undertook a 3 year Diploma Art course in Swansea.
These 5 years gave me a grounding in a wide range of media including sculpture, ceramics, screen printing, painting in oils, print making and Batik.
The first 20 years of my career were in mainstream and special school art teaching in Bristol, Wisconsin (USA) and Bath.
I worked for Creative Education, delivering one day professional development courses across England and Wales to practicing art teachers.
For the past 7 years, I have been an tutor for Bath College, delivering adult community courses across the Cam and Somer Valleys. These have included Radstock, Midsomer Norton, Timsbury, Farrington Gurney and in Bath for: Julian House, Childrens Services, St Johns Hospital Foundation and The Stroke Association.
I am both an artist and art educator with a passionate belief in unlocking the potential of every person that enrols on my courses. I was the education officer for the International Batik Guild (see website links) for several years. My studio 'The Engine Room' was the venue for 2 national AGMs for the Batik Guild in 2015 and 2018. Our home is 9 miles south of Bath and The Engine Room is an amazing large and light space in what was an Iron Foundry built in 1808 next door to our home (see photos).
I have been a member of The Cam Valley Arts Trail since 2015, exhibiting my own batik work in the engine Room studio and other venues. I invite other artists to exhibit with me and enjoy offering demonstrations and short workshops.
My courses have been working through the media of Batik. I have also delivered courses at Ammerdown Centre in Exploring Photography; Exploring Screen Printing and Exploring Drawing Through Training your Right Brain.
The Engine Room Art Group: About 4 years ago, I was commissioned by Natural Theatre, to find a group of creative folk to interpret the Somerset Coal Canal Basins (just behind our home) through a range of textile media.
The group of 12 worked together for 3 months and created a 5 foot hight triptych that was exhibited in the local museum and the library. Once exhibited, the group had a taste for continuing and so the 'Engine Room Arts group' was born! We are still going strong with weekly sessions where the majority have found their media, creating large and small pieces in Batik, Screen Printing, Watercolour and other printing media.
IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN JOINING US:
Whether you have ideas that you want to realise or are looking for inspiration, Batik Exploration will enable you to start where you are and will move you at your own pace, to be inspired.
Absolute beginners are very welcome as well as the more experienced. You will receive all the attention that you feel that you need.
The Batik Exploration workshop will guide you through the unique process of learning to draw with hot wax, and using vibrant Procion dyes to complete your design.
