Profile
My interest in colour and enamelling resulted in my experimenting with enamel, especially painting enamel. This technique, traditionally used for detail in heraldic imagery and miniatures was the catalyst for early work. I completed many commissions, mostly of buildings and landscapes. My involvement with the Guild of Designer Craftsmen of N. Ireland encouraged me to exhibit these miniatures. Later I also exhibited with the Ulster Society of Miniaturists.
In 1988 I joined the British Society of Enamellers. Through involvement with it , new contacts, workshops and international conferences, my work evolved.
In 1992 I spent 3 weeks in Barcelona attending classes at La Llotja school when the students were taught painting enamel. The same year I also was selected as one of a group of jewellers and metalworkers from Ireland to go to Canada for a six week placement where I was able to work with many Canadian enamellers. This encouraged me to become involved with the American Enamelist Society and submit pieces for international exhibitions.
In 1993 I travelled to Cinncinnati, USA to attend the Enamelist Society Biennial International exhibition and conference. In 1999 I went to Ontario, Canada to attend the Enamelist Society 7th International juried exhibition and conference.
In 1997 I started printmaking at the Seacourt Print Workshop, Bangor, N. Ireland. This gave a whole new dimension to my work. I appreciated contact with other artists in a studio environment, the possibilities of development of ideas, methods of working on a larger scale as well as the benefits of belonging to a thriving artistic community.
Commissions
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I have undertaken numerous private commissions and have collaborated with jewellers and silversmiths. Public commissions include enamelling the Coat of Arms for the University of Ulster Mace and Staves made by Michael McCrory.
In 1997 my husband Michael and I collaborated to complete the Presidential Shield for Mary Robinson, Dublin Castle, Ireland.
Teaching
After I graduated from the Royal College of Art (RCA) I taught part time Silversmithing and Jewellery at the Ulster Polytechnic/University of Ulster. I have continued to teach enamelling to the Metal and Jewellery students at the University of Ulster as a visiting lecturer. I have taught enamelling on the Crafts Council of Ireland Jewellery Skills course in Kilkenny, Ireland since 1994. I have also run enamelling workshops in Kilkenny for the Crafts Council of Ireland.
Awards
1998 and 1999, RDS Crafts Competition, Silver Medal in Enamelling. In 2005 a Support for the Individual Artist Award from the Arts Council of Northern Ireland, which enabled me to purchase a large kiln.
