Bio

My background is in gymnastics, as a teenager I competed nationally and internationally, however the culture of the sport and coaching methods had a devastating impact on my mental health and self esteem. I struggled with stress related anxiety from a young age and have experienced ongoing mental health issues.
I studied BA(hons) Art: Practice and Theory at Lancaster University and settled in the area to
raise my children. At the age of 39 I was diagnosed with Autism and ADHD. This became
the catalyst for me to reconnect with my art practice.
Over the last four years I’ve been proactive in seeking opportunities and support; joining local arts organisation Kings Street Arts, gaining mentoring from Shropshire based disability arts organisation DASH, and gaining Arts Council England funding for my DYCP project ‘ProPriOception’, which brought my experience in gymnastics into my art practice for the first Time. Dealing with increasing media coverage of malpractices within the gymnastics world at the time of my DYCP provoked me to address my own negative experiences and after researching therapy options I sought EMDR treatment, where I was diagnosed with Complex PTSD. The treatment process was emotionally and mentally challenging, however the processing of past traumas has been transformative.

Artist Statement 

I am a neurodivergent visual artist based in Lancaster. My art practice explores themes of proprioception, embodied experiences, neurodivergence and mental health. I work across multiple disciplines including drawing, painting, collage and video.
In 2022-23 I completed an ACE funded DYCP project titled ProPriOception. This project explored my lived experience within the world of elite gymnastics, drawing upon my understanding of acrobatic movement, and looking at the juxtaposition between the beauty of performance and the realities of the gymnastics culture.
Building on the work I produced during my DYCP I’m now making preparations for new body of work that explores trauma and healing, looking more deeply at my personal experiences; the repercussions of negative events within gymnastics, my struggles with long term mental health issues, and the journey that my late diagnosis of neurodivergence has initiated.

Why MW is important:

For me, MW serves a vastly underrepresented group of artists who’s talent and voices are not currently being seen or heard in the wider art community. My own experiences demonstrate to me that as an individual artist I’m unlikely to find success in opportunities that are tailored primarily towards neurotypical/non-disabled people – the MW artists directory is an opportunity to be part of a supportive network.