meet Amanda
Artist, teacher, creative
Amanda reflects experiences of her travels through the rural and urban environment in her imagery, noticing and collecting fragments of things seen.
She makes paper, fabric and mixed media assemblages which record the process of selecting, fragmenting, layering and recombining her observations, memories and rambling experiences.
Amanda reflects experiences of her travels through the rural and urban environment in her imagery
She is noticing, sketching, photographing and collecting fragments of things seen. She makes paper, fabric and mixed media assemblages using a process of selecting, layering and recombining her observations to record memories of her meandering experiences.
C. V.
Residencies
2016 - 2017 › Sussex Prairie Garden, Henfield, West Sussex
Teaching
2021 › Festival of Quilts
Academy workshop tutor, NEC
2014 - 2017 › Steyning Grammar, Leader in A level Art Community
2018 - 2020 › Head of Art and Photography, Hurstpierpoint College
2014 - 2018 › 6th form, embed new A level, Steyning Grammar
1999 - 2014 › Faculty Leader Creative & Performing Arts, Steyning Grammar
1982 - 1999 › Art Teacher & Head of Art, various schools in Sussex, Kent, Somerset
Community
2021 - Ongoing › Fine Cell Work volunteer.
Fine Cell Work is a charity and social enterprise which enables prisoners to build fulfilling and crime-free lives.
2014 – Ongoing › ‘Steyning So and Sews
In 2014 a group of 20 women was formed as a legacy aspect of the ‘SGS 400 Quilts’ project. This group of volunteers make Art Textiles for the local community.
Projects completed to date:
East Clayton Farm Textile 2021
Commissioned to make Art Textiles for a newbuilding on this local care farm. The farm focus is to integrate marginalised and
troubled young people, many with learning disabilities, with adults and older people.
Steyning Arts Trail 2019
A theme ‘Sense of Place’ inspired group members tomake individual panels conjuring their own special places in life.
Exhibited in ‘The Lodge Studio’, Steyning.
Wilton Park 70th anniversary Art Textile commission 2016
We completed an Art Textile for the main staircase of Wilton Park, Wiston House, West Sussex. Wilton Park is an executive agency of the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office providing a global forum for strategic discussion.
2011 - 2014 Steyning Grammar School
Heritage Lottery funded project ‘SGS 400 Quilts’ Marking the 400 year anniversary of education in the town by making 5 Quilts. 500 people from school and community put stitch to fabric.
Education
PGCE, Brighton University
BA(Hons) Fine Art, Goldsmiths – London University
Art Foundation, St Albans College of Art
Amanda’s Teaching Dates 2022
Course dates and information
SHIBORI tye dye WORKSHOP in full swing - 2019
Inspiration
‘I immerse myself in playful activity re-imagining things I have seen. I am drawn to details such as a broken tree trunk covered in algae or the wall on the side of a building that shows layers of disrepair.
Once hooked on the subject exploring shape and colour contrasts and finding sinuous linear visual pathways through fragmented textural surfaces becomes an almost meditative process. In the studio I go into a zone, so focused that I lose track of time, forget other pressing life matters and become honed into seeking the perfect balance or imbalance within compositional arrangements.
Working regularly in ‘series’ keeps me productive, knowing when to stop each piece brings satisfaction and a sense of relief, knowing the work is complete.’
Layering, texture & sequences
In much of her work, she hides the narrative, within the layered surfaces. There may be a tiny detail, a small collection of marks, a graphite or stitched line or unique symbol that conjures the spirit of a place, an object or a feeling of what has been seen. Boundaries of traditional representation dissolve – a rubbing of a coin, a tracing of a leaf, a ripped photograph re-presented. There is a sense of discovery in her images the closer you look.
Amanda’s process includes addictive habits, she works in ‘series’, sequencing images, finding a continuous flow and progressing the imagery, connecting her daily practice of mindful slow stitching and intuitive pencil doodling to the creative process.
classroom to studio
Ten years ago Amanda re-established her own studio practise after a career in Art Teaching. She is now on her own creative journey which includes balancing exhibiting/selling her work with teaching adults.
If you want to learn a new technique or you are looking for support as you start your own creative journey Amanda can help you.
guiding principles
Encouraging, Inspiring & positive
Encouraging and enthusing course participants in a relaxed and non-judgmental environment is at the heart of how Amanda teaches. Her invitational communication style developed over years of working with young people is now useful in building a positive friendly rapport with adults in one to one and group discussion.
Inspiring confidence towards personal creative success is a guiding principle for Amanda who believes everyone has artistic strengths that can be developed.
follow your curiosity…
