I am a practitioner with 10 years experience in socially engaged practice as both artist and curator. I have undertaken a number successful socially engaged residences with communities across the UK and have exhibited with organisations such as QUAD, Derby, Museum of Liverpool, Future Everything festival (Manchester), CCA (Glasgow), Islington Mill (Salford), University of Reading and Open Eye Gallery. I am now also the Head of Engagement at Open Eye Gallery and have a studio based at Paradise Works studio in Salford.

Increasingly I am simultaneously employing both artist and curator expertise, for example in the FACT Veterans film club & digital Over60s projects, delivering critically engaged quality artwork with communities across health, community & heritage settings. I have been developing a recent project, which brings together the personal stories and imagery associated with the North West British waterways and canal system. This project has expanded my practice from photography into textile pattern design and installation whilst also engaging directly with the local communities connected to the waterways.

I would propose to develop this project using the benefit of the facilities at the University as well as engaging directly with the students on this project through Chester’s own connection to the Waterway system. Furthermore I am keen to engage with the students to discuss the various pathways one can take as a freelance practitioner, which can span across artist, curator and producer, connecting them to other institutions such as Open Eye Gallery and Paradise Works studios.