Writing & Press
2025
2024
About
I grew up in East Sussex, in a book-filled house where very little was thrown away. I graduated with a BLib (bachelor of Librarianship) from University College Wales, Abersytwyth in 1990 and worked as a librarian until August 2025. I’ve worked in Hertfordshire, Hillingdon, East Sussex and finally the University of Brighton having moved to Lewes in East Sussex when our children were small.
As a child I was a regular visitor to Hailsham Library. The CHILDRENS LIBRARY sign behind me in the photo was a fixture when the library was built in the 60s, so would have been there when I visited as a child. It was removed during a refurbishment some years ago and was given to me recently. We had it wired into our kitchen and were amazed to find that the original fluorescent tube still worked. The lack of apostrophe is perplexing but I don’t notice it having lived with it for a few years.
My introduction to screenprinting was by taking a course at East Side Print in Brighton in 2021. I quickly realised that this versatile medium would give me opportunities to explore my interests to create art. I have an affinity with objects and ephemera that have a story behind them and create screenprints inspired by them. Whilst working in one of the University of Brighton libraries I noticed that different library ownership stamps in some of the older books and have printed some up as library beer mats. I have also printed bags and cards with a library theme.
In October 2024 I exhibited a collection of library ephemera and stamps in The Artworker’s Guild tabletop museum and invited visitors to make a postcard using the stamps. This had a really positive reaction and inspired me to create my own library stamps, repurposing redundant Alpo 40 and Alpo 50 stamps. I carved new stamps from lino and refurbished the ink pads.
I have also been learning how to screenprint with natural dyes and intend to incorporate this eco-friendly, slower method into my practice. If you are interested in this, East Side Print run various courses throughout the year.