Artist Biography
After travelling and living extensively throughout Asia and Europe for many years, working as a jeweller I moved back home to Scotland to study.
I graduated from Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design in 2005 with a First Class Honours Degree in Time Based Art, and followed on to complete a Masters with Distinction in Sound Art. I then embarked on a career working as a filmmaker and editor in the performing arts, working with organisations such as The National Theatre of Scotland and the Liverpool Philharmonic, filming and editing live productions. I also worked with a lot of theatre companies as a video designer.
In 2013 I had the wonderful opportunity to go and do an MA in screenplay writing and film production at Bangor University, graduating with a Merit. This is when I fell in love with North Wales and decided to stay and set up Pitch Black Paradise studios in 2017 at Glynllifon Park. The studio has grown over the years into a wonderful place to work, sell my art and run workshops.
I teach analogue photography, cyanotype printing and also provide facilities and space for artists to create new bodies of work. I also make and sell mixed media cyanotype prints at festivals and print fairs.
I have exhibited my work in group shows around Wales. Since 2021 have been involved in a lot of Community Art Projects, collaborating with CARN and Syrcus Cimera as a lead artist and assistant artist and running creative workshops. Goleuo Gwynedd was a project designed to bring grassroots arts organisations and artists together to develop and deliver creative opportunities and engagement for freelance artists, emerging artists and communities along the coastal areas of the Menai Straight, Caernarfon Bay and Pen Llyn, through a series of outdoor celebratory arts events.
In 2024 I was awarded a Seed Funding Grant from Cyngor Council which enabled me to finish building the new Analogue Photography Darkroom, deliver creative workshops and to train a young local welsh artist in assisting me with the Analogue photography workshops.
Im still full of wanderlust and I travel every year looking for new inspiration. I feel travelling is fruit for my soul and creativity and I love to create new bodies of work whilst on the road inspired by the culture and local people I meet along the way.
CV
Pitch Black Paradise Studios - Artist - 2017 - Present
CARN Members Show - Dec/January 2025
Cwmni’r Fran Wen- Supportive Arts facilitator at Gwyl Adda Festival - October 2024
Artist Seed Funding Cyngor Gwynedd September - 2024
Sylfaen Cymunedol Caernarfon - July/ August 2024
DreamBoat - August - 2024
Travelling Art Studio on tour to Portugal - April/June 2024
Fools Parade - Community Arts & Circus - April 2024
Pethau Bychain Group Show CARN - April 2024
Open Studios Weekend - Glynllifon Park - March 2024
Lets Create Bursary - February - 2024
Christmas Lantern Parade Carnarfon - Nov 2023
Cheshire Print Fair - Oct 2023
Gwyl Afon Ogwen River Festival - Art Installation - Sep 2023
WOMAD Festival Artisan Tent - August 2023
Travelling Art Studio on tour - North Wales to Morroco - January- June 2023
Pitch Black Paradise Photography Darkroom moves studios - November 2022
Feast of Death - Circus and Art Event CARN & Cimera - November 2022
Parc Glynllifon Christmas Fair - November 2022
Mental Health Youth Art Workshops for Gwynedd Creadigol - October 2022
Lead Artist Project Lleu- ANNWN - Sep-Nov 2022
Assistant Artist to Racheal Rosen Project lleu - July - Sep 2022
Travelling Art Studio on Tour - May 2022- December 2021
Christmas Parade Caernarfon Art & Circus Dec 2021
Parc Glynllifon Christmas Fair - Nov 2021
Tonnau Festival Commision for the Kitchen Disco Stage -July 2021
Travelling Art Studio on Tour Mexico Jan- March 2020
Galeri Ar Agored- Analogue Photography ‘Endless Summer’ Nov 2019
Gwyl y Felch Exhibition - Ink drawing ‘Fannie Baws’ - Oct 2019
Gwyl Afon Ogwen River Festival - Art Installation - Sep 2019
Elysium Gallery Swansea, Exhibition ‘We’re from further south than you’ - Aug 2019
Sui Genesis Plas Bodfa Film ‘Silent Telephone’ - April 2019
Art Residency CARN Balaclava Experimental Photography , Exhibition & Workshops “Process” - Nov 2018
Helfa Gelf Gwynedd Open Art Studio Glynllifon - Sep 2018
Storiel Bangor- Exhibition Screening of Film ‘Silent Telephone’ - Sep 2018
Liverpool Philharmonc Orchestra Schools Concerts Filming for Live Projections 2009-2018
Pitch Black Paradise Opens - Nov 2017
Helfa Gelf Gwynedd Open Art Studios Static Caravan Installation Aberdesach - Sep 2017
BFi Film Academy at FACT Liverpool , Workshop leader, Film Production 16 - 19 year olds - 2014-2015
Sound Recordist Middleman Productions & Dreamcast - 2014
Video Designer The Arches Glasgow, Theatre Production ‘Tell me what giving up looks like “ - 2014
Production Assistant, Modern TV Caernarfon, Documentary about the National Trust, Screened on the BBC - 2014
Video Designer & Researcher, KAM-Ri Dance Company, Tramway Theatre Glasgoww & Mela Dance Festival Edinburgh 2013
Driver & Runner, Scenario Film Productions on the Feature Film Delight by Gareth Jones, 2012
Video Designer & Lecturer, John Moores University Liverpool, 2012
Media Producer, Liverpool Philharmonic Hall, 2009-2011
Digital Artist , Sonic Sinema Scotland, Filming , Editing, Teaching & Video Design 2005-2009
Digital Art Lecturer, Central College of Commerse Glasgow, 2006-2008
Qualifications
MA - Filmmaking Concept to Screen - Merit - Bangor University 2012 - 2014
MSC - Sound Art - Distinction - Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design, Dundee 2005-2006
BA - Time Based Art - First - Duncan Of Jordanstone College of Art & Design, Dundee 2002-2006
HND - Digital Art & Design - Merit - Central College of Commerce, Glasgow, 200-2002
“Travelling is fruit for my soul and creativity”
