My research considers illustration as a humorous, mnemonic and analytical means of understanding complex ideas and situations. I enjoy making visual notes in live working environments, including meetings, teaching activities and training events. I have produced, studied and exhibited field notes in transit and on location. My illustrations often translate metaphorical figures of speech and use architectural structures and landscapes to dramatise ideas. Much of my work incorporates musical and theatrical ways of articulating meaning, form and creative process. I am interested in using illustration to cohere creative exchange, across disciplines and between academia and the wider public.
Boards and Committees
Chair, Subject Leaders’ Forum CSAD 2012-13
Management Planning Team, CSAD – Co-opted Member 2012-13
Academic Quality and Standards Board – CSAD Rep, 2011-12
Conferences and editorial boards
Associate Editor, the Journal of Illustration (Intellect) launched Nov 2013;
4th International Illustration Research Symposium: ‘Science, Imagination and the Illustration of Knowledge’: Oxford University Museum of Natural History 2013 Co-instigator; editorial panel member, session chair;
HEA Art & Design: seminar at V&A July 2013: joint creative methodologies workshop with Dr Natasha Mayo;
HEA Art & Design: interdisciplinary Seminar – ‘Drawing In Between’ – Co-organiser/host – with Dr Natasha Mayo June 2013, CSAD
2nd International Illustration Research Symposium: ‘Illustration and Writing’ Manchester School of Art, Nov 2011. Session chair; editorial panel member;
1st Illustration Research Symposium: ‘Shadowplay: Alchemy, Redolence and Enchantment’; Co-instigator with Amelia Johnstone, Cardiff November 2010.
Conference Performances ‘Paul Tillich: an artist’s perspective’ – performed paper with Richard Parry at ‘Paul Tillich: Theology and Legacy’ conference, Ertegun House, Oxford, July 2014;
10th Anniversary Falmouth Illustration Forum ‘The Absurd Event’ March 2012: musical performance;
Musical performance paper: ‘Illusorius: image and text in the piano music of Erik Satie’ at 1st Illustration Research Symposium: ‘Shadowplay: Alchemy, Redolence and Enchantment’, Cardiff November 2010
‘No More Words: To Artademics: Manifesto’; with Desdemona McCannon (MMU) and Harriet Edwards (RCA), Published in the Journal of Writing in Creative Practice Dec 2011, Vol 4 Issue 2;
Collaborative paper: ‘Weather just right: mostly cloudy: the decline of the postcard as a popular medium of communication’ with Fran O’Hara at ‘Picture This: Letters and Postcards Beyond Text’ conference, University of Sussex English Department, March 2011;
Illustrations for: ‘The Inclusive Learning and Teaching Handbook’ – Sheffield University 2010;
PERFORMANCES
‘The Soldier’s Tale’ by Stravinsky. Live drawing and puppetry for performances by Psappha Ensemble at the International Anthony Burgess Foundation, Manchester, Feb 2015
EXHIBITIONS
‘Artefacts of Dialogue’ –pop-up show, part of HEA ‘Drawing In Between’ seminar, Howard Gardens Gallery, CSAD June 2013;
‘Portfolio: Works on Paper,’ (Group exhibition). Drawings from meetings. Howard Gardens Gallery 2013;
’Creatures of Habit’: drawn postcard correspondence with Jan Bennett for group show ‘Addiction’ at Tactile Bosch Dec. 2009;
The Park’ – solo exhibition of drawings about liminal space, Oriel Tri, Penarth, 2006;
LIVE ILLUSTRATIONS FOR CONFERENCES
‘Thinking with John Berger’ conference, Cardiff Met Department of Education, Sept 2014. Live drawings and co-facilitation of delegate sketchbooks with Dr Natasha Mayo (CSAD);
Skillset Wales Conference 2012 with Scarlet Design International at Wales Millennium Stadium;
Interdisciplinary.net 3rd Global Visual Literacies Conference: Exploring Critical Issues – Mansfield College Oxford July 2009;
Creativity or Conformity?: Building Cultures of Creativity in Higher Education CSAD/UWIC January 2007;
CHILDREN”S BOOK ILLUSTRATIONS INCLUDING:
‘The Gardening Pirates’ by Ruth Morgan, Gomer Press 2012;
‘Twts the Busiest Baby in Wales’ by Chris Glynn – Gomer Press/NHS Bookstart special edition 2010;
‘Ble Mae Twts?/Where’s Twts?’ by Chris Glynn and Ruth Morgan;
Gomer 2006;
‘Bump in the Night’ trilogy, by Ruth Morgan, Gomer Press 2001-2003.
Other illustration clients have included Oxford University Press, Wales Theatre Company, Cardiff Schools Service, and Glyndebourne Education.
AWARDS
‘The Gardening Pirates’ shortlisted for Tir na nOg Award for Best Children’s Book Other Than Fiction for 2013.
Tir na nOg Award for Best Children’s Book Other Than Fiction for ‘Byd Llawn Hud/One Busy Book’, 2006
Enterprise Projects and Industrial links
Student and staff residencies with Professor Judith Hall OBE at Cardiff School of Medicine Department of Anaesthetics and Pain Management: Patient pathway and team dynamics, from April 2014 (ongoing);
‘Recognising Prior Learning’ seminar, Cardiff School of Management, SWALEC Stadium, 3D visual facilitation with students, Sept 2014;
Graphic facilitation for Operational Development Pathway Training for Public Health Wales/NHS, with Cardiff School of Management. July 2013 and Feb 2014.
CSAD Inc Space Mentor 2014- (ongoing); liaison with A&O Studios during pilot ‘Creative Producer’ training programme funded by Skillset and Cyfle, involving four CSAD Illustration graduates.
Seed funding and Strategic Insight Programme (SIP) grant May 2013.
Host: Oxford University Museums. Exploring field notes in the collections, differentiating audiences, network and outreach development and symposium preparation;
PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT
Facilitating student animation for ‘Five Animated Shorts’ by Steven Mackey (Princeton University), performed live by Psappha Ensemble, Halle St Peter’s, Manchester, Feb 2015;
‘Performing Medicine: Inside Information’: interdisciplinary public engagement events with Cardiff School of Medicine Department of Anaesthetics and Pain Management, Clod Ensemble and WMC; Nov 2013 (larynx), May 2015 (heart);
‘Walking With Illustrators’ – cosmographic tour of Oxford museums with symposium attendees and members of the public, Nov 2013;
‘Hidden Personalities’ drawing workshop for 6th formers at Pitt Rivers Museum, Oxford, involving CSAD students, Nov 2013;
1st Cardiff Children’s Literature Festival – Illustrator in residence with Illustration students, March 2013
Bespoke drawing course for Arup engineers and Holder Mathias architects, 2012;
London Symphony Orchestra Discovery Team – Storyboard workshops at Barbican Centre Nov 2012;
‘Postcards from the Future’. Inter-generational Big Draw event with Fran O’Hara and illustration students at Chapter Arts Oct 2010
ANIMATION CREDITS INCLUDING:
‘Tiny Planets’(2001) Pepper’s Ghost for ITV – storyboard artist
’Sheeep!’ (2000) TVCartoons – layouts
; Kid Clones (broadcast 2005) Cosgrove Hall Films – character designer;
‘Noah’s Island’ (1997) ‘Wiggly Park’ (1998) Telemagination – layout artist;
‘Le Chateau des Singes / A Monkey’s Tale ‘– (1999) Studio La Fabrique – layouts;
‘Elijah’ (1996); ‘David & Saul’ (1996);
‘Faeries’ (1999) Cartwn Cymru/S4C – layouts;
‘Maisie’ (1998) King Rollo Films – layouts;
‘The Wind in the Willows’, (1995) TVCartoons – character designs/layouts;
‘Under Milk Wood’ (1992) BBC/S4C – character designs, layout, storyboards;
