With encouragement of friends and family I helped organize the “openart” events at Nicholas Hawksmoor Primary School 2005-08, both as a fundraising event for the school and as an opportunity for local artists to exhibit and sell their work. I mainly did the graphic design but worked as part of a team with the overall organization and running of the events.
My work was popular at the events especially my greetings cards, I realized that I could possibly work from home as an artist, working when the pain was less and still rest when I needed. I started sending work to “Image by Design” an agency specializing in licensing work mainly in the greetings card and publishing industries. some of which was published in a variety of places (including US, Europe and post Soviet states). Work has declined since the credit crunch so I am now setting up my own website to try to sell my prints featuring “alphabets” of different places…..I chose a town or city and find something relating to each letter of the alphabet, then create a design of 25 small squares. I take photos ( we visit the place as a family and my husband and son push my wheelchair around all the places I need to go and photo.) I plan carefully where and what I need to photo by researching on the internet and using books but take mine own views and images to work from.
I also hope to sell my handmade button bags and attract commissions from the site.
My commissions often feature several images combined in one design… I work with the client to find relevant images …often these are for special occasions such as big birthdays and anniversaries. They feature places, special items, treasures or something very special to the recipient.
My button bags are created from a blank felt bag and I arrange and stitch numerous buttons of all varieties all over…they are very unusual, quirky and attract lots of comments whenever I use mine!
This is the first time I have entered open studios and am exhibiting in the Dolphin Café in Towcester and will do demos on the Saturday afternoons.
