I came to the course with an open mind – an open mind to what my art practice may be and an open mind to what lay ahead in my future. I have always been inquisitive, and curious – and so I knew that a research based practice would appeal – but with regards to media / discipline –

I really did feel that I could experiment at HCA; and the support of the tutors therefore made me feel confident enough to take risks. HCA was a place of discovery for me – it was where I discovered the foundations of my practice and my position as an artist.

Life has been incredibly busy since graduating in 2015. The work I showed at the degree show was selected to be shown at the Bargehouse, London as part of FloatArt 2015. I was then awarded a scholarship to study Master of Fine Art which I completed in September 2016 to the level of distinction. During 2016 I developed the performative / action based aspect of my practice, and performed at Tempting Failure CIC– London, Emergency- Manchester and Modern Panic VII– London. 2017 got off to an exciting start with my work being exhibited at Birmingham MAC as part of New Art West Midlands. I also performed my longest durational piece to date, ‘Mothers Pride’ at Buzzcut Festival – Glasgow. This performance was a 9 hour durational work exploring the female body and the maternal figure in a public space, using 350 loaves of Mothers Pride bread and 140L of milk.

I would say the biggest benefit to studying at HCA was definitely the amount of access I had to tutors. The access to one to one tutorials really was invaluable in the development of my confidence, and the concepts within my practice.

For me being an artist is very much about being a researcher. I use my practice to ask questions, to help me understand myself and the world I live in. I have always been fascinated with the materiality of the body – the abject body and the body as a thing of transformation. I also use my practice as a way of trying to understand my position in the world as a woman. I am fascinated with the public-private and appropriate- inappropriate dichotomy that surrounds notions in relation to the body; particularly in the discussion of gender, specifically when discussing the concept of femininity. Through the re-presentation of bodily materials, I am interested in how the gap between viewer and artwork can be bridged. The viewer becomes hyper-aware of their own body, therefore having a perceived physical experience. I am also really interested in the relation between the interdisciplinary aspects of my practice – the relationship between visual arts and action / performance. I am curious as to where the parameters of performance lie – I am always trying to test the boundaries, to see where the performance begins and ends, (if it does at all).

I started working as Project Assistant at the Sidney Nolan Trust at the beginning of 2017 to assist during the centenary year of Sidney Nolan’s birth and so I am currently learning how to juggle working life with my art practice. I was also awarded a special opportunity award at New Art West Midlands in which I was awarded with the prize of a residency at Grasslands, Birmingham. I am really looking forward to sharing space with other artists and widening my network in a part of the country I haven’t yet had the opportunity to engage with.