ARTIST BIO

Born in Fife, I grew up in the Scottish Borders and studied Illustration at Edinburgh College of Art. I have lived and worked in Dundee since 2007.

My practice is guided by noticing and I use illustration as a means of understanding the world - people; places; histories. I love bringing stories to life and I often work with cultural and not-for-profit organisations on projects including activity books and trails, reminiscence booklets, and a graphic novel.  Primarily working in pencil, paint and ink, I combine hand-drawn layers using traditional and digital printing methods, creating playful and engaging narrative illustrations.

 

EDUCATION​

• MA with Distinction, Illustration | 2014 | Edinburgh College of Art

• BA (Hons) 1st Class, Visual Communication | 2007 | Edinburgh College of Art

 

RESIDENCIES​

• Picturehooks (mentorship programme) | January 2021 – September 2021

Over nine months, I worked on developing illustrations and text for a children's picture book. I was mentored by picture book illustrator and author Chris Haughton. ​

• Hospitalfield, Free Drawing School | May 2019 – April 2020

Year long residency exploring 800 year history of Hospitalfield’s Walled Garden.

Making drawings on location and from original archival documents, my research culminated in the production of a graphic novel In the Garden at Hospitalfield, published Spring 2021.

• Dundee International Women’s Centre | November 2017 - June 2018

This residency stemmed from three years working at DIWC and led to the production of my solo exhibition Patterns of Migration, where I illustrated stories describing the complex challenges facing people who have migrated to the UK.

• Edinburgh College of Art | August 2014 – July 2015

 

AWARDS

• Longlisted: World Illustration Awards | 2021

• Visual Artist and Craft Maker Award | March 2021 

• Community Ideas Fund | November 2019 | Dundee

• Visual Artist and Craft Maker Award | March 2019

• Writing for Children Award (Highly Commended) | August 2016 | Moniack Mhor

• Kelpies Design and Illustration Award (Shortlisted) | February 2016, 2015, 2014

• Andrew Grant Scholarship | September 2013

• Helen A. Rose Bequest | July 2007

• Andrew Grant Bequest | July 2007

• Macmillan Prize for Children's Picture Books (Highly Commended) | May 2007

 

EXHIBITIONS

• Picturehooks Festival of Illustration | Scottish Storytelling Centre, Edinburgh | November 2021

• And if not now, when? | National Museum of Scotland, Edinburgh | November 2021

• Living Together - Housing in Dundee | group exhibition | November 2019 - January 2020 | Lamb Gallery, University of Dundee

• Little Originals | group exhibition | Dock Street Studios, Dundee | December 2019

• Art for All | group exhibition | Lamb Gallery, University of Dundee | August - October 2019

• Patterns of Migration | solo exhibition | March – July 2018 | Verdant Works, Dundee

• DCW Takeover | group exhibition | September 2017 | GENERATORprojects, Dundee

• Rain, rain | solo exhibition | November 2008 | Coconut Grove, Edinburgh

 

SELECTED PROJECTS

• All Aboard RRS Discovery | fold-out activity trail | Dundee Industrial Heritage Trust

• In the Garden at Hospitalfield | graphic novel | Hospitalfield (published May 2021)

• Design Busters | activity book | V&A Dundee, March 2021

• Festive Window | pop-up book window display | UNESCO Dundee, December 2020

• Efter a Hard Day’s Graft | wall mural | Lochee Community Regeneration, June 2020

• Dundee Eats | food guide and maps | Dundee City Council, 2019

• Free Drawing School | poster | Hospitalfield, 2019

• Spring-y | poster and set of learning resources | Hopscotch Children’s Theatre | Glasgow, 2019

• Dundee’s Waterfront | booklet illustration| Dundee Heritage Trust, 2019

• Dundee Days | Oor Wullie’s Big Bucket Trail | Wild in Art, 2019

• Dundee Women’s Festival | booklet design and illustration | 2019 and 2018

• Procrastination | poster illustration | Creative Dundee, 2018

• Page from my sketchbook | wall mural | Open/Close Dundee, 2017

 

​

GALLERY EDUCATION AND COMMUNITY ART

I have over six years’ experience working with community groups, schools, young people, and vulnerable adults on creative projects. I regularly plan and deliver sessions for V&A Dundee and McManus Galleries, Dundee. I am listed on Scottish Book Trust's Live Literature database and have worked on several projects with UNESCO City of Design Dundee.

​

ROLES

• Artist in Residence | Hospitalfield Free Drawing School | May 2019 – April 2020

Designing drawing workshops at Hospitalfield for community groups, schools, young people, vulnerable adults, plus outreach sessions in Arbroath.

• Creative Educator | V&A Dundee | September 2018 - ongoing

Designing and facilitating creative learning workshops and tours for primary schools; community groups; families; public drop-ins and outreach sessions.

• Creative Educator | McManus Galleries | Dundee | November 2015 – 2021

Planning and delivering creative learning workshops for community groups; families, young people, schools and outreach sessions across venues in Dundee.

​

SELECTED WORKSHOPS & PRESENTATIONS

• How Scotland’s Landscape Shapes Design | V&A Dundee | May 2024

Presentation and panel discussion. Part of Royal Society for Edinburgh talk series.

• Big DoG Children’s Book Festival | Dumfries & Galloway | April 2024

Live drawing and storytelling session for children and their families.

• Playful Portraits | Average Gallery, Perth | March 2024

Drawing workshop for opening of new Perth Museum.

• Bring History to Life | Strathearn Arts, Crieff | October – December 2023

Community engagement sessions – sharing work-in-progress for Burning of Strathearn banner.

• Scottish Association for Mental Health (SAMH) | Duntrune Community Garden | March 2022

Co-design and supporting a group to paint a mural inspired by the community garden.​

• In the Garden at Hospitalfield | Hospitalfield, Arbroath | May 2021

In-conversation event with Professor Anita Taylor of Drawing Projects UK, celebrating launch of graphic novel.

• Dundee Design Parade | Dundee | April – May 2018 and 2019

Working with Dundee-based youth groups to design and create items inspired by UNESCO cities, for display in Dundee Design Parade.

• Re-Formation | Dundee | July – September 2018

Street art project with a group of young people at the Finmill Centre, Dundee.

• Make a Zine! | Dundee International Women’s Centre | November 2018

Part of Book Week Scotland programme. Taught families how to make an 8-page book using one sheet of paper.

• Rebel Books! | Broughty Ferry Library | November 2018

Part of Book Week Scotland programme. Taught the group (children aged 8-12) simple book-making techniques and explored making nonsense stories.

• Layers and Mark-making | Forgan Arts Centre | November 2017, February 2018, May 2018

Illustration workshop (adults) exploring layering colours and textures with use of a light-box.

• Fun and Food | Dundee – April 2017 | various primary schools and community centres

In partnership with McManus Galleries: workshops included mask-making; exploring Egyptian artefacts; paper ship models.

• Aspire, Rite of Spring | Dundee | February - March 2017 | St Vincent’s & St Pius Primary (Primary 4/5)

Working with classes to create wearable art inspired by global warming.