Bits & bobs

I am delighted to have the chance to join the happy crew at Shoreham Art Gallery and look forward to meeting all our visitors on my duty days. I would like to introduce myself by way of one of my favourite Instagram hashtags…. #crackplants. I am rather charmed by plants that grow in cracks and

My interest in painting has been ongoing since my early years. I suffered in school and was labelled as a slow learner, which held me back academically until I was told it was more than likely I had dyslexia. I was a visual learner and did well at any practical subject, art being one of

Sue Jones’ Tea Bag Story… Sue Jones is known for her wonderful hand made textile bags and accessories at the gallery and often incorporates recycled textiles in her work. As Sue hates waste she wondered how she could also up-cycle her teabags after enjoying a cuppa? So she set out to make some different items

Some thoughts on an even greener gallery… Considerations when running a gallery are similar to home – Avoiding single use plastics and any materials that can’t be recycled, re-used or repaired. Being energy efficient. Making our gardens a haven for pollinators and other wildlife. The Gallery artists work in many different ways and with a

I was lucky to lead a textile tour to India in early 2020. Sadly the holiday company went bust early in the first lockdown. I had made friends with Isha, one of the ladies who had worked for the company and lived in Delhi. She wanted to help some of the artisans she knew from

Rosie Hall is a local girl who always wanted to be a ballet dancer. I have known her father for many years and he has spoken of her with pride. It wasn’t until recently when he showed me a small video of her dancing that I understood just how good she is and gorgeous as

Gemstones, crystals, precious stones, whatever you call them, to me they are little gifts from the Earth’s core, conjured up by mother nature’s fair hands. In case you didn’t realise, I love them! Each and every one has something special about it and I treasure going to gem fairs where I can, and do, spend

My dream was to be a ballerina when I left school but I soon learnt that my legs were nowhere near the required length. My other dream was to be an artist. On leaving school at 16, I didn’t become a ballerina or an artist, but started my first job in the personnel department for

Being creative can be very difficult at the best of times but even more so when you have had two family bereavements during one of the most difficult years. I’ve been fortunate to have worked in the field of Art and Design for most of my life; as an illustrator, teacher and printmaker and for

Why I should remain a Woodturner? One month into lockdown and I was almost starting to question my place as a Woodturner and whether I ought to perhaps become a gardener instead? I’m green-fingered and the English love their gardens so I’d always have work! I must have been only nine or ten when I