About

I am an independent arts producer working from Southampton, UK.

My specialism lies in working with artists to produce artworks for the public realm or unconventional spaces such as medieval buildings, shops, parks, bridge cabins and disused cemeteries. I am currently chair of ‘ixia: Public Art Think Tank’ supporting the reshaping and diversification of the national organisation with 5 other trustees. www.ixia-info.org

I am currently producing two independent public art projects for Riverside Park, which is part of the neighbourhood where I live, working with local artists Sarah Filmer and Deborah Gearing. These projects are the outcome of R&D that took place in 2021 funded by an Arts Council England Developing Your Creative Practice Award.

Read more about these new projects Drawing on the Outside and THE EEL RUN.

I work under the name of Host Productions and offer freelance services to artists and arts organisations. My experience and skills extend across:

• Project research, feasibility studies and advice on commissioning approaches;
• Project development including curation and development of artist briefs;
• Project Management including client and artist liaison;
• Organisational development including charity closure or merger;
• Artist research and selection;
• Talent development and mentoring for artists and students;
• Grant writing for organisations and artists
• Access Support for those needing additional help with Arts Council funding applications;
• Project evaluation.

Background

I began my career in Bristol at the award winning public art producers Situations (2002-2018), where I was part of the small creative team who set out to challenge global perspectives on public art and deliver ground breaking projects such as Alex Hartley’s Nowhereisland, 2012 for the Cultural Olympiad. Situations has now closed but you can access the projects, research and resources that were developed over a 15 year period www.situations.org.uk.

During my time in Bristol I also produced my own curatorial projects and was a member of the Spike Island Associates Scheme (one of the first of its kind), playing a vital role in Bristol’s vibrant independent art community at a time when the city’s visual arts scene was flourishing.

I have contributed to a number of research and advocacy projects connected with public art. I was part of the pilot phase for the European Network of Public Art Producers 2010-2011 (ENPAP), which culminated in the book Out of Time, Out of Place: Public Art (Now). In 2020 during the Covid-19 pandemic I produced a series of online conversations with artists working in public space looking at commissioning from the artists perspective. You can access resources and the recordings www.aspacearts.org.uk/artist-development/artist-voices.

As part of my trustee role at ‘ixia: Public Art Think Tank’ I am organising a series of online forums designed to capture unheard voices in the sector and breakdown barriers to access. I regularly offer mentoring and development sessions to artists and fellow freelancers.