My work is influenced by my career in biomedical science. A zoology graduate from the University of Newcastle upon Tyne, I specialised in cytogenetics, working in research at the Universities of Newcastle, Cambridge and Birmingham. An autoimmune eye disease that appeared after the birth of my second child prompted a major change in direction. Now I work in art and science. I have been commissioned to produce art work for the Department of Clinical Chemistry at the Northern General Hospital, Sheffield as well as exhibiting in various venues in Sheffield such as the Workstation, Persistence Works, Access Space and the Lescar Project. My work has been shown in Leeds City art gallery, Scarborough art gallery and Saffron Walden Library art space.
For two days a week I occupy a laboratory on the top floor of the Jessop Wing. For the last 12 years I have worked with Professor T.C. Li, consultant gynaecologist, and Dr Susan Laird, Sheffield Hallam University, investigating the causes of recurrent miscarriage. I have produced art work with my science colleagues, most notably Nick Jenkins with whom I produced ‘Cells to Music’ a video production of cultured stem cells filmed down the microscope over a weekend. This work has been shown as an intermission at a scientific conference and as part of an art exhibition at Persistence Works.
The work illustrated above is a full sized screen with black and white hand developed plant images transferred onto Perspex panels. Inspired by the tropical greenhouses in the park at Ventnor on the Isle of Wight, it is part of a series called 'memories made visible’.
