ONCE UPON A SIGN
The artwork created to slow down traffic in Middridge, Durham is a series of three road signs that change every six weeks. Each set of signs tells a short story in three pictures, with the first story being the classic tale of the tortoise and the hare. The words accompanying the first story simply say "Be More Tortoise," encouraging drivers to slow down and take their time on the road. New stories will continue to appear throughout 2023.
All the stories featured on the signs are inspired by workshops with local communities, including schoolchildren. These stories aim to connect with the community and provide a more personal touch to the artwork. They include local folklore, references to the area's history and captivating phrases.
The strategic placement of the road signs in Middridge is a key aspect of the artwork's effectiveness in slowing down traffic. By catching drivers' attention with the short stories and engaging visuals, the signs encourage them to slow down to the recommended 30mph speed limit, creating a safer environment for pedestrians and drivers alike.
Overall, the use of creative engagement activities (such as invisible hopscotch that appears in the rain) add to the unique and memorable nature of the artwork in Middridge. These activities encourage community involvement and make the artwork a more integral part of daily life in the village, promoting safe driving and community engagement in a fun and engaging way.
The use of storytelling through pictures is a creative and engaging way to slow down traffic in the village. The constantly changing signs also keep the artwork fresh and interesting for locals and visitors alike. Overall, this artwork adds a unique and meaningful touch to Middridge, while promoting safe driving habits and community involvement.
Commissioned by North Yorkshire County Libraries as part of a national dialect research initiative. The artwork focuses on exploring dialects in military services and resulted in a 4-meter-wide photograph of the Scots Guard regiment.
The photograph, which is on display at Catterick library, features the Scots Guards in uniform, standing at attention in formation. At first glance, the image appears to be a straightforward portrait of the regiment. However, upon closer inspection, viewers will discover a hidden message encoded within the photograph.
The artwork also features an interactive element, where visitors to Catterick library can hunt for clues to solve the puzzle in the photograph. The artist has hidden postcards throughout the library, each containing a clue that will help visitors decipher the secret message in the photograph.
By exploring military dialects and code languages, the artwork also encourages visitors to consider their own dialect and language use. It prompts reflection on the ways in which language and dialect shape our identities and experiences, and how they can be used to create community and connection.
Overall, the artwork is a creative and thought-provoking exploration of dialect and code languages in military services. It highlights the importance of language and communication across the military and invites viewers to consider the unique language and varying dialect across the Services. The interactive element adds an engaging dimension to the artwork, encouraging visitors to participate and engage with the artwork in a way that also encourages them to visit the local library, paying particular attention to the under-utilised military section.
I’m frequently commissioned to develop and deliver a series of workshops in response to a particular brief. The outcome of the project is often unknown at the beginning and the process is usually the key purpose. I’ve included this project as an example of how I work on such a commission.
Commissioned by IVE, Leeds I worked with Richmondshire Refugee Support Group for 5 months, engaging young people from Syria, Afghanistan and Ukraine. The project aimed to explore the idea of whether there are unspoken voices in young people that can be released through the visual arts to enact agency. The young people involved were refugees, and the project gave them control over the direction of the project, allowing them to make decisions on what happened from week to week. The project aimed to provide a creative outlet for the participants, enabling them to have fun and consider themselves, but also helped them integrate into their new place by fostering cultural exchange and collaboration. The project involved a series of creative workshops, where the young people were encouraged to explore their artistic abilities and express themselves through various mediums.
One unique aspect of the project was that the young people created geocaches as a means of self-expression to the world. They used the geocache boxes as a canvas to tell their stories and express their hopes and ambitions. The geocaches were hidden around the town, and they shouted their whereabouts with banners paraded through the town, displaying GPS coordinates. This activity not only allowed the young people to express themselves creatively but also enabled them to engage with the community in a unique and exciting way. In addition to creating geocaches, the project involved going outside and meeting business owners, people on the street, and visiting cultural centers. The project also included visits to cultural institutions such as the local library, Town Hall, English Heritage sites, and museums, which helped inspire the young people to experiment with new techniques and perspectives in their work.
The project was a journey for everyone involved, and it enabled the young people to develop confidence and comfortable social skills, enhancing their self-esteem. The creative workshops and geocache project allowed them to explore their artistic abilities, express themselves, and engage with their new community in a meaningful way.
Visitors to Palace Hub at Redcar were invited to share the stories about their favourite teacup . These creative conversations happened as people were shown how to make a linocut or a drawing of the teacup, whilst enjoying cups of tea and cake in between.
A social gathering with a tea party feel, this project was commissioned by Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council for the Queens Platinum Jubilee Celebration.
A series of linocuts were created inspired by the stories and a limited number of prints created. Small printing blocks were also created with a finale as a Two Tin Cans pop up experience during the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Central Weekend 2022.
