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Art in the Community
Barny Owl
In July 2023, I started working on a sculpture project that I had been commissioned for a few months earlier. The sculpture was of an owl named Barney, who is the school mascot of Lady Barn House, a prestigious independent school in Cheadle.The school was celebrating its 150th anniversary and wanted something truly special to mark this milestone. They asked me to create a sculpture of Barney that would reflect the diversity and creativity of their students. We decided to involve all the children in the school in the design process by asking them to design a feather for Barney. I then painted each feather onto the sculpture, using their designs as inspiration.The sculpture was made of fiberglass and measured two meters in height. It took me 167 hours to paint all the individual feathers onto the sculpture, making sure that each one was unique and colourful. I was very proud of the result and so were the children and the school staff. Barney is a beautiful and vibrant owl that represents the spirit and history of Lady Barn House.
Medina tul Ilm Mural
In February 2022, I embarked on an exciting collaboration with Peshkar and Fresh Belief, based in Oldham. Together, we embarked on a remarkable journey to create something truly extraordinary. Our mission was to design and paint a captivating exterior wall mural, breathing life into the communal gardens of the Mosque.Over the course of 12 weeks, I had the privilege of working with an incredible group of 16 young Muslim teens. Their boundless creativity and enthusiasm were truly inspiring. We met every Saturday, engaging in ice-breaker games and mind mapping sessions that paved the way for an awe-inspiring theme. I wanted the theme to be a reflection of their unique perspectives, so I encouraged them to unleash their ideas onto paper. The result was nothing short of magical—a mural that beautifully encapsulated their religious beliefs.The painting process took place during the April half-term, coinciding with Ramadan for these young ladies. It was an intense week filled with challenges. The teens were fasting, their sleep schedules were disrupted, and the weather was cold and blustery. Despite these obstacles, their unwavering determination shone through. They embraced the challenge head-on, pouring their hearts and souls into every brushstroke. The results speak for themselves—truly outstanding!I am immensely proud of these remarkable young girls and what we have achieved together. This mural stands as a testament to their talent, resilience, and unwavering spirit. It is a celebration of the power of to inspire and unite communities.
Stockport Frogs
Stockport’s Giant Leap art trail has been a huge success since 2019, attracting visitors from near and far. It’s organised by Totally Stockport, who have been very supportive of my work. I was honoured to be chosen as one of the artists for the first Stockport Frog Trail in 2019. My frog “Sir Hopsalot” was a hit with the public and fetched over £2000 at the auction later that year. I also painted the “Christmas Pudding” frog, which is a festive favourite that pops up every December. These were my first painted sculptures and I discovered how much I enjoy bringing 3D shapes to life.
In 2021, I was thrilled to be asked to paint three more frogs for the trail. It was a dream come true to have three of my creations on display. And the dream continued this year when I was selected again for the “Gigantic Leap Forward” frog trail of 2023. My frog “Fredison” is inspired by Thomas Edison, the inventor of electricity. “Fredison” the frog was the first frog to find out that eating fireflies would make his belly glow.
Yayoi Kusama inspired wearable art
In July 2023, I had the opportunity to work on a recycled wearable art fashion show, commissioned by Factory International, a cultural organisation that supports creative industries. I collaborated with Street Style Surgery, a social enterprise that I had worked with before on a similar project.The fashion show was inspired by the Yayoi Kusama exhibition that was held in Manchester, celebrating the work of the Japanese artist known for her use of dots and colours. We worked with three local high schools, Our Lady’s RC, William Hulme and Parrs Wood High. We helped the young people design and create wearable art using recycled materials such as plastic bottles, plastic bags, old CDs, donated clothing, pre-loved toys, crisp packets, bubble wrap, and more.We spent three days with each school and it was amazing to see the level of creativity in these kids. Each school was given a different theme that was based on Kusama’s work, such as infinity mirrors, pumpkins, or flowers. They had to incorporate her signature dots and colours into their designs.The project culminated in a large fashion show that was held at the new Aviva building in Festival Square, a landmark development in the city centre. It was a fantastic atmosphere, full of excitement and nerves. The young people showcased their creations on the catwalk, impressing the audience with their originality and flair.While the children were getting ready for the fashion show, I was responsible for running the activity tent. Along with a small team, we offered various recycled plastic craft activities for the visiting children to do. The activities were inspired by the art that the school groups had created. It was a great way to engage the public and raise awareness about recycling and creativity.
Big movement art
I devised an idea for an outdoor fabric painting workshop that used unconventional tools such as broomsticks, washing-up brushes, and natural brushes made from leaves, grass, and sticks after being inspired by the challenge of motivating my own children to be active and creative outside in the midst of the pandemic. I wanted to offer other children a fun and engaging way to express themselves through art and movement.In 2021, this project was commissioned and delivered in partnership with Street Style Surgery, a social enterprise that provides creative workshops for young people. The project was a huge success, attracting many children who enjoyed the experience of making art on a large scale.The children started by foraging for natural materials that they could use to make their own brushes. They also used long sticks with charcoal attached to them as their “pencils”. They drew and painted on fabric while standing up, using broomsticks and washing up brushes as well. They created beautiful fabric wall hangings that reflected their personal styles and inspirations.It was wonderful to see the children embracing this big art project. They showed their creativity, confidence, and joy through their artworks.
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