Dane Court Grammar School, Broadstairs

Just finishing a wonderful project on identity at Dane Court Grammar School. Met some amazing pupils on this ambitious Future Creative pilot project.
Here's part of a picture of our Identitree (!) or palm tree. I got lots of groans from year 8 from my overuse of the puns!

Grotter Day! 24th July 2008 - Whitstable Oyster Festival

Congratulations to all the families and friends that came together for this magical event, over 150 grotters made this year! This is our 3rd year running the event and every year more people get involved. It takes your breath away, you have to see it for yourself.

Whitstable Oyster Festival - Animate

5 days, 5 different costumes, 150 kids! Getting ready for the parade on the 19th July. Lovely to work with such enthusiastic kids and teachers. Stay tuned.......

Daphne - Margate Rocks

Meet Daphne! We created her for TDC as part of Margate Rocks 2008 - Amazing how many people can walk straight into a 10ft long dolphin! We also helped lots of kids (and some adults) to make a school of fish to swim with her.

Caravan Making for Animate/Amicus

Working with a young group to promote Romany culture - we're making willow caravans and talking about the essential things to have inside, like TV's, Gameboys etc! Oh yeah and maybe a cooker and a bed. The caravans will all be on display in an exhibition which takes place in Sittingbourne in April, so more pickies to follow.

Rangoli - Isle Of Thanet Arts / Margate Libary

Painted a rangoli style pattern outside Margate library as part of the celebrations of the newly refurbished building. It took us three hours and it was soooo cold!

Jan 2008

Well January seems to be zipping past. You find me updating my web site, collating last years images and feedback ready for this years proposals. Plotting and planning future projects There are a few exciting workshops in the pipeline already, I'll jot them down as soon as I know the details. I've got a feeling 2008 is going to be a good one!

Christmas Carol - Broadstairs

Been asked to decorate the hall for this wonderful 'must see' production in Broadstairs. Plus crowns for the Christmas past & present.

Tree Dressing Day, Ramsgate

March of the Dead Mask

Here's my contribution For Strange Works March of The Dead Parade

Snuff Puppets Thames Festival

Just spent an awesome couple of weeks with the Snuff Puppet team and a great bunch of people making giant puppets for the Thames Illuminated Carnival this year. George and I made the above pictured 'the man with London on his back' A bit of a grumpy geezer with obnoxious tendencies but with an occasional tender side.

The man with London on his back

Footprints - Marlowe Academy

Worked with the Marlowe summer school kids, about to take their first 'steps' into the academy. We made these two 8ft giant footprints to adorn the school walls.

Kinetica Workshop

Helped Kinetika make these giant wings for an event at the South Bank centre

Grotter Day - Whitstable

Build a grotter day was even more packed this year than last! We showed hundreds of people make how to make grotters on Reaves beach in Whistable for part of this years Oyster Festival. Beautiful event but sooo windy.

Tour du Mini Monde - Whitstable & Herne Bay

A cycling world tour for kids (and parents!) We were in Herne Bay on the 26th August

Kent Children's University - Maidstone

Another amazing funny foam workshop, the kids and parents designed and made some awesome things! The dinosaur being one of my favourite.

Tour du Mini Monde - Canterbury

We created a mini world for kids to cycle around for the Tour de France in Canterbury.
Brilliant day, the weather was on our side! Great meeting so many enthusiastic kids and parents, all winners of the tour du Mini Monde of course!

Tattoo workshop - Gulbenkian Theatre

Got to tattoo some future rock stars and the Gulbenkian's Regener8 festival!

Flying Fish Workshop - Estelle Jourd

Went to Estelle's Flying Fish workshop at the Horsebridge Centre and made a flying Fish with my friend, Emily. We named her Fiona! Who unfortunately was lost at sea due to extremely windy conditions

Herne Bay in Bloom Mural

Thanks to everyone who supported Veena and I during 3 days of hard painting. The weather provided everything from burnt noses and soggy socks! Big thanks to the lovely family who gave us drinks and encouragement.
My favourite public quote over the course of the 3 days was: 'cool, you should put that on ebay!'

Pirate Workshop - Gulbenkian

Ahoy me hearties! Twas a motley crew that I made costumes with! Inspiring group of kids.

Wingham Bird Park

Helped the kids and parents of 'Spots' make this mural after their inspiring trip to Wingham Bird Park. Their enlarged drawings were cut out of wood,painted and then are dotted around (forgive the punn!) the bird park. Lovely project and Great place, I highly recommend it! You gotta see those meercats!

AOA - Loop Dance Company Brook Theatre

Taken from kids drawings based on Madonna's book the Adventures of Abdi, this low budget theatre set brought a few squeals of delight!

Winners!

5 VERY HAPPY Treasure Hunt winners! They won a goat for a village in Africa.

Adventures of Abdi - Brook Theatre

Taught stage design workshops in 3 primary schools with designs based on Madonna's book The Adventures of Abdi - for a collaborative performance with Loop Dance Company at the Brook Theatre

Treasure Hunt! - Canterbury

Gather your wits and skills, all you need is an enthusiastic team of 5 to enter THE Treasure Hunt of the year! and the 10 squid goes to charity! See ya there! www.myrednoseday.com/animate

Gallery IOTA Wake

Decorated the Gallery IOTA for the wake - yep sadly the gallery is forced to close - but we went out in style, of course!

Kent Children's University

Helped people make hats and masks as part of another fun workshop for Kent Children's University

Planet one nine ninety nine - Animate

A week long residency in Castle Hill School with 4 other artists loosely based on the Little Prince book. We create an artistic environment to help with different issues that the kids have. Great fun was had by all as well as addressing sensitive subjects.

Under One Sky II

Installation at Birley's Pavillion, Canterbury. Worked with a great group of people including Lisa Payne, Rick Bollinger, Pablo and Jo Dyer

Wish Upon A Star - Gulbenkian Theatre

An installation that I was commissioned to do at the Gulbenkian. It showed alongside a production of 'Laura's Star' and kids and adults were invited to make a wish and hang it inside the installation. ## Available for Hire ##

Cinderella - Margate Theatre Royal

Made LED wigs for the pantomime!

St Nicholas Parade - Canterbury

Did school workshops of barrel costumes & coziers based on stories of St Nicholas ready for Saturdays parade. There was some brilliant dancing and lots of enthusiastic smiles.

Bizarre Bazaar - IOTA Gallery

A wee stall to try and shift my mounting collection of art works! My fish went to a happy new home in a private jacuzzi room in Dumpton Park.

Flaming Snowflakes! - IOTA

Made by Andrew Baldwin, decorated and lit by Berry, admired by all - awesome!

WestwoodX Lantern procession - IOTA

Did a beautiful lantern procession at Westwood X but forgot to take my camera! Such a lovely small event and the weather was on our side despite earlier mini hurricanes!

Make It Real Procession - Animate

The planets also took part in the parade on Saturday, Thanks to some very enthusiastic planet barers who spontaneously took part.

Under One Sky Installation - Orange Street, Canterbury

Working with Animate, I created 19 planets for this installation for a evening get together for delagates from around the UK involved in the 'Make It Real' projects. Awesome venue, great atmosphere and collaborated with some lovely people, from sound designers, actors, lighting engineers and artists.