For over 30 years I have worked extensively as an artist and designer. Initially I began in printed textiles and then set up my own design company and for the last decade have worked as an artist.
I graduated in 1978 from liverpool polytechnic with a degree in printed textiles and then in 1980 an ma in printed textiles at manchester university.
During the 1980’s I produced printed textile and fashion collections under my own label incorporating my own one-off fabrics. From 1985/95 I ran my own stationary company designing and marketing my own designs, selling to harvey nichols, liberty, harrods and selfridges in london, and exporting to the usa and japan.
Increasingly I became disillusioned with the design world and wanted to start all over again. After seeing a series of programmes on television in 1998 about outsider art, I began working on a life project the ‘house of dreams museum’ within my home and garden in east dulwich. Every surface inside and outside has been covered with found objects, ie false teeth, old disabled dolls, bottle tops and wigs. Together with my hand-written memory boards which recall important events in my life.
I have visited many outsider environmens in france, including picassiette in chartres, palais ideal in hauterives, and the home of bodan litnianski. I am influenced by the spirit and freedom of outsider art, and in particular the outsider movement in france.
The house of dreams has been bequeathed to the national trust.
