In February I along with other creatives was given the opportunity from Somewhereto_ to access a space I have been passionate about for several months. 
I spotted the old Rachel Hammond Salon in the Highcross last year it was vacant and I thought it would lend itself so perfectly to an art exhibition. It's blank walls, enormous windows and alcoves were perfect for it, finally in February I got the chance to exhibit. 

Just after Christmas I was watching a programme that was about the shop Libertys of London and it's run up preparation for the Christmas period. I was really inspired by the way that the shop was run and it's passion for the products that it stocks. 
I have wanted to find a way to incorporate my stitching and paint work in some way for a while and I had a idea pop into my head which resulted in the paintings featured. These new pieces are Acrylic paint on canvas with cotton fabric hand stitched on top. My themes behind the pieces are 
                                        'Classic Icons, Timeless Fabrics, Modern Interpretation'
I am aiming to add more to this collection, I'm really pleased with the outcome. 

'Striped Vogue Collection' painting sold while being exhibited in the Twickenham branch of Harris & Hoole,
 so pleased!

Over Half Term in Leicester I was given the opportunity from SomewhereTo_ to exhibit my work in the city shopping centre the Highcross. They have a campaign called the 'Highstreet Heist' for this Re:Store we used an empty space that has been vacant for quite a while. Along with other creatives we took over on old Virgin store I was given space to display my paintings and stitchwork. 
During this time I was also painting some new pieces within the space which allowed passers by to see me at work and a little of the behind the scenes of my working process. 
On the last day a make up artist Kelly Odell painted me in the style of one of my paintings. It was a really cool experience to see how someone else would interpret my painting style. 

I have been wanting to create some original images to paint from for a really long time. I finally got around to pulling something together and on the 29th of this month I managed to achieve this. 
My inspiration from the shoot was the Ruven Afanador's shoot of the Olsen twins, I wanted a similar style but with fresh new images to work from. I love the use of coke cans as rollers, I fell it brings a real juxtaposition between the vintage and modern. 

I had some fantastic help from the photographer Paul and Gaz from Rococo Imaging who took so many incredible shots, I'm going to have so many to choose from to paint! The gorgeous model is Natasha Vernon who is available to book she is stunning and I'm looking forward to getting to know her face in my painting. Her aunt is the talented Kelly Odell MUA who helped to me to create the look that I wanted. 
A friend of mine Rebecca Griffin aka Betsy Olive helped me with the styling of the shoot . Finally the sudio that we used was Lux Photography a fantastic studio based in the city centre of Leicester was such a great space! 
I'm so looking forward to starting my collection of paintings from this shoot!

I have just sent these pieces down to London, I've been lucky to have them shown at the BOXPARK in Shoreditch. 
BOXPARK is the world's first Pop Up shopping mall located in the heart of East London - Shoreditch. My work will be shown from the 29th September - 3rd of October, so if you're going to around London please stop by and have a look. 

With the help of somewhereto_ I had a stall at this years 'Our Leicester's Day' on the 25th August within the Leicester Market. I was able to showcase some of my paintings and my stitchwork. 
There was also the Leicester SkyRide going straight past the Market and lots of other events going on throughout the city. So there was lots of excitement and buzz going on around the center. 
I had a really lovely day and had some great comments from people looking at my work, I am looking to do a lot more events like this so check my events page to see what I have coming up. Thank you to everyone who popped by to see me you support is so appreciated! 

I was lucky enough to be one of the winners in the competition with Somewhereto_ John Lewis Oxford Street. My painting 'My Week with Marilyn' which is Acrylic on Canvas was shown in the Brasserie of John Lewis for 10 days between the 22nd - 31st of July. 

I'm so pleased to say that someone contacted me through my website who wanted to buy the painting. 

So here is 'Marilyn' all wrapped up and ready to go! It's always so strange when I sell a painting and knowing that this is probably the last time I ever see it in person (photos never properly do the paintings justice), but hoping that she enjoys her new home!

My final major project on the run up to my Degree Show was based around the idea 'if walls could talk' I was inspired by the idea that as people we imprint an identity of ourselves on our home. 
For example if you move into an old home you can sometimes find layers of old wallpaper underneath the walls revealing an imprint of previous owners. 
I painted and hand carved wallpaper designs into 5 large plasterboards, I then pasted layers of wallpaper on top. 
I peeled off some of the paper and cut through some of the individual pattern revealing a little of what was underneath, a glimpse of the past.

After the completing my final year show in 2010 I was lucky enough to be selected to go to New Designers show in Islington, London representing my University. My pieces that were chosen for the were the more aesthetic samples for the development of my final year project 'If walls could talk'.
They are plasterboard pieces with hand carved wall paper patterns. I found the show a really useful experiences and it was my first chance to talk to professionals that were interested in my work.