CV
Apart from one term at CCAT (Cambridge College of Arts and Technology) as a mature student attending the Foundation in Art and Design, I am largely self- taught. I've had a great many career changes along the way, from archaeology to horticulture, to infants teaching, administration and catering. A firm believer in new beginnings and silver linings, I found myself in West Dorset in 1992 and began to work towards my dream of becoming a full time artist.
In 1995 I moved to Bridport which was already a thriving hub of cultural activity, but it wasn't always easy for artists to show more unconventional work. It was to help encourage a wider audience and draw attention to the remarkable artists and craftspeople who lived and worked in the area that I started Bridport Open Studios in 1999, which I am so proud to say is still going strong to this day, 20 years later, though I no longer have anything to do with its organisation.
In 2002 I took over a space in a redundant net-making factory on St Michael's Trading Estate in Bridport, and with Kit Glaisyer and Andrew Leppard, artists who were already working there, we formed St Michael's Studios, which became in itself a hub of artistic creativity and a great draw for visitors to the town. David Brooke, my partner, joined me there in 2004, leading to many interesting and creative collaborations, exhibitions and open studio events. Sadly a fire in that part of the building in 2018 put an end to that chapter, but David and I continue to work together in another studio on our own individual projects and ideas.
In 1995 I moved to Bridport which was already a thriving hub of cultural activity, but it wasn't always easy for artists to show more unconventional work. It was to help encourage a wider audience and draw attention to the remarkable artists and craftspeople who lived and worked in the area that I started Bridport Open Studios in 1999, which I am so proud to say is still going strong to this day, 20 years later, though I no longer have anything to do with its organisation.
In 2002 I took over a space in a redundant net-making factory on St Michael's Trading Estate in Bridport, and with Kit Glaisyer and Andrew Leppard, artists who were already working there, we formed St Michael's Studios, which became in itself a hub of artistic creativity and a great draw for visitors to the town. David Brooke, my partner, joined me there in 2004, leading to many interesting and creative collaborations, exhibitions and open studio events. Sadly a fire in that part of the building in 2018 put an end to that chapter, but David and I continue to work together in another studio on our own individual projects and ideas.
Milestones
1977 - Graduated from Liverpool University - Ancient and Medieval History and Archaeology
1983 - Secretarial Training - Cambridge Secretarial College
1989 - RHS General Exam Course; City and Guilds Garden Design, Tree and Shrub Management, Cambridge Agr Col
1991 - Foundation in Art & Design, Cambridge Art College (unfinished)
1992 – Moved to West Dorset
1993 - PGCE in Early Years, St Lukes Exeter
1999 – Started Bridport Open Studios, now an annual event in the town’s cultural calendar.
2002 – Co-founder of St Michael’s Studios, Bridport.
2004 - David Brooke joined me at St Michael's Studios
2018 – St Michael’s Studios destroyed by fire in building – move to studio in Morcombelake, near Bridport
2019 - Joined Lyme Bay Arts
Solo Exhibitions
2001 No 10, Café-Gallery, East Street, Bridport, Dorset
2001 ‘New Season’s Colour Collection’, Bridport Arts Centre, Bridport, Dorset
2002 Art in the Corridors, County Hall, Dorchester, Dorset
2003 ‘The Shape of Place’, The Meeting House, Ilminster, Somerset
2003 ‘Thistledown’, The Arts Centre, Yeovil, Somerset
2007 ‘Colour for Life’ Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital, Wonford, Exeter, Devon
2008 Still Lifes, No 7 Café, Crewkerne, Somerset
2008 ‘Refreshers’ No 10 Café-Bar, 10 East ST, Bridport,
2010 Still Lifes, The Food and Land Trust, St Michael’s Trading Estate, Bridport, Dorset
2015 ‘Adventures in Colour’, Le Vieux Four Pattisserie-Gallerie, Beaminster,Dorset
2015 Pastel Pictures—The Café, Seavington St Mary, Ilminster, Somerset
2016 Mariann’s Windowsill: a Retrospective, St Michael’s Studios, Bridport, Dorset
Group Exhibitions
1994 ‘Out of the Wood’ High East St, Dorchester, Dorset
1998 ‘Ex Libris’ The Old Library, East St, Bridport, Dorset – for Dorset Art Weeks
2000 ‘Taste of Dorset Art Weeks 2000’, Sherborne, Dorset
2001 Society of Graphic Fine Art Open Exhibition, The Hotbath Gallery, Bath, Somerset
2002 Christmas Exhibition. Hind St Gallery, Ottery St Mary, Devon
2002 Open Exhibition, The Town Mill, Lyme Regis, Dorset
2003 Artists for Peace, The Meeting House, South St, Bridport, Dorset
2004 SGFA Open Exhibition, The Hotbath Gallery, Bath
2004 ‘Raft’ The Gallery, Winterborne Monkton, Dorchester, Dorset
2004 ‘Artyfacts’ Dorset County Museum, Dorchester, Dorset
2005 ‘New Horizons’, The Octagon Theatre, Yeovil, Somerset
2006 Friends and Family Exhibition, Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital, Wonford, Exeter
2007 Whitestones Café-Gallery, Easton, Portland, Dorset
2007 Beaminster Festival, Beaminster, Dorset
2007 ‘Threshold’ The Front Room Gallery, South St, Bridport, Dorset
2008 Royal West Of England 156 Autumn Exhibition, RWA, Queens Street, Bristol
2008 SGFA 87th Annual Open Exhibition, Menier Gallery, Southwark St, London
2008 Friends and Family Exhibition, Exeter Hospital, Devon
2008 ‘An Exhibition of Pastel Pictures’ (with Mazz Simmons) No 10 Café-bar, East St, Bridport Dorset
2009 Opening exhibition of paintings in newly built Bridport Medical Centre
2009 An Exhibition of Photographs and Paintings, with Peter Wiles, Nine Springs Alternative Health Centre, Yeovil, Somerset
2009 SGFA South West Members Exhibition, The Town Mill, Lyme Regis, Dorset
2009 ‘Spirit of Place’ Dorset County Museum, Dorchester, Dorset
2009 SGFA 88th Annual Open Exhibition, The Menier Gallery, Southwark St, London
2009 Friends and Family exhibition, RD&E hospital, Exeter
2010 ‘Portrait of the Artist’ Allsop Gallery, Bridport, Arts Centre, Bridport, Dorset
2010 ‘Art@Eype 2’, St Peter’s Church for the Arts, Eype, Bridport, Dorset
2010 Axminster Artisans, Trinity House, Axminster, Devon
2010 SGFA Open Exhibition, Menier Gallery, Southwark St, London
2010 Friends and Family exhibition, RD&E hospital, Exeter
2011 Whitestones Café-Gallery, Easton, Portland
2011 ‘Art@Eype 3’, Church for the Arts, Eype, Bridport, Dorset
2012 ‘Drawing-The Visual Expression of Thought’ Allsop Gallery, Bridport Arts Centre
2012 SGFA South West Members Exhibition, The Meeting House, Ilminster, Somerset
2012 Burton Bradstock Festival, The Village Hall, Burton Bradstock, Dorset
2012 SGFA – Draw 12, Annual Open Exhibition The Menier Gallery, Southwark St, London
2012 Friends and Family Exhibition, Exeter Hospital, Exeter, Devon
2013 SGFA South West Members, The Octagon Theatre Foyer Gallery, Yeovil, Somerset
2013 Burton Bradstock Festival Exhibition, The Village Hall, Burton Bradstock, Dorset
2013 ‘Drawing – The Visual Representation of Thought – Second Thoughts’ Allsop Gallery, Bridport Arts Centre,
2013 Draw 13 – SGFA open exhibition Menier Gallery, Southwark St, London.
2014 Art@Eype Group show, Eype centre for the Arts, St Peter’s Church, Eype, Bridport
2014 Friends and Family exhibition, RD&E hospital, Exeter
2014 Burton Bradstock Festival Exhibition, Bridport Dorset
2015 ‘Drawing, the Visual Expression of thought’ Russell-Cotes Museum, Café-Gallery
2015 ‘The Theatre of the Soul’ Bridport Arts centre, South St, Bridport, Dorset
2015 Burton Bradstock Music Festival Exhibition, Burton Bradstock, Dorset
2015 ‘6 x 9’, Bridport open Studios taster exhibition, Bridport Arts centre
2015 Christmas Exhibition, Le Viuex Four, pattisserie –gallerie, Beaminster, Dorset
2015 Secret Art Sale, Bridport Arts Centre fund raiser.
2016 1000 Post Cards, fundraising exhibition Black Swan Arts, Frome
2016 Burton Bradstock Music Festival exhibition
2016 Dorset Arts & Crafts Show, Wareham
2016 Quartz Arts Festival, Queens College, Taunton
2017 Art of the Unusual, Allsop Gallery, Bridport Arts Centre
2017 ‘Cake’ Shaftesbury Arts Centre Gallery with Amanda House and Karren Burkett
2017 Art@Eype, Eype Church for the Arts
2017 Bridport Open Studios, Taster Exhibition, Bridport Arts Centre.
2019 6 Bridport Artists, Eype Church, nr Bridport
2019 Strangways Hall Group, Abbotsbury Village Hall, Open For Art
2019 Watercolour Magic, The Gallery, Symondsbury, Dorset with Lyme Bay Arts
2020 'Natural Forms' Sou'Sou'West Gallery, Symondsbury
2021 The Museum of Mystery and Imagination, Bridport Arts Centre
2021 Art@Eype 2021, Eype Centre for the Arts, Bridport
Joint Exhibitions with David Brooke
2005 ‘An Exhibition of Imaginative Paintings and Drawings’ Octagon Theatre, Yeovil
2006 ‘Untold Stories’ Bridport Arts Centre Café-Gallery, Bridport, Dorset
2010 ‘Enchanted Seas and Lollipop Trees’ White Space Gallery, Milton’s Yard, Axminster
2011 Bridport Arts Centre Café-Gallery, Bridport, Dorset
2012 Lula’s Café-Bistro, East St, Bridport, Dorset
2013 ‘An Exhibition of Paintings and Drawings’ Le Vieux Four, Beaminster, Dorset
2016 Imagination Unbound: a retrospective, St Michael’s Studios, Bridport, Dorset
2017 Recent Work, Whitestones café-gallery, Easton, Portland
2020 'Imagination Unlocked' Eype Church for the Arts, Bridport
2021 'Imagination Unlocked 2' Eype Church for the Arts, Bridport
Open Studios
Dorset Art Weeks—participated since 1998 (except for 2008)
Bridport Open Studios (August bank holiday most years) - founder in 1999, coordinator 1999 & 2001, participator every year,except 2019 and during the pandemic
St Michael’s Studios—bank holiday open studios—Easter, Spring (alternate years with DAW), August, Christmas opening first weekend of December most years, until closing in 2018 after the devastating fire.
Open for Art – Artwey, open studios in Weymouth and Portland, 2017, 2019.
1977 - Graduated from Liverpool University - Ancient and Medieval History and Archaeology
1983 - Secretarial Training - Cambridge Secretarial College
1989 - RHS General Exam Course; City and Guilds Garden Design, Tree and Shrub Management, Cambridge Agr Col
1991 - Foundation in Art & Design, Cambridge Art College (unfinished)
1992 – Moved to West Dorset
1993 - PGCE in Early Years, St Lukes Exeter
1999 – Started Bridport Open Studios, now an annual event in the town’s cultural calendar.
2002 – Co-founder of St Michael’s Studios, Bridport.
2004 - David Brooke joined me at St Michael's Studios
2018 – St Michael’s Studios destroyed by fire in building – move to studio in Morcombelake, near Bridport
2019 - Joined Lyme Bay Arts
Solo Exhibitions
2001 No 10, Café-Gallery, East Street, Bridport, Dorset
2001 ‘New Season’s Colour Collection’, Bridport Arts Centre, Bridport, Dorset
2002 Art in the Corridors, County Hall, Dorchester, Dorset
2003 ‘The Shape of Place’, The Meeting House, Ilminster, Somerset
2003 ‘Thistledown’, The Arts Centre, Yeovil, Somerset
2007 ‘Colour for Life’ Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital, Wonford, Exeter, Devon
2008 Still Lifes, No 7 Café, Crewkerne, Somerset
2008 ‘Refreshers’ No 10 Café-Bar, 10 East ST, Bridport,
2010 Still Lifes, The Food and Land Trust, St Michael’s Trading Estate, Bridport, Dorset
2015 ‘Adventures in Colour’, Le Vieux Four Pattisserie-Gallerie, Beaminster,Dorset
2015 Pastel Pictures—The Café, Seavington St Mary, Ilminster, Somerset
2016 Mariann’s Windowsill: a Retrospective, St Michael’s Studios, Bridport, Dorset
Group Exhibitions
1994 ‘Out of the Wood’ High East St, Dorchester, Dorset
1998 ‘Ex Libris’ The Old Library, East St, Bridport, Dorset – for Dorset Art Weeks
2000 ‘Taste of Dorset Art Weeks 2000’, Sherborne, Dorset
2001 Society of Graphic Fine Art Open Exhibition, The Hotbath Gallery, Bath, Somerset
2002 Christmas Exhibition. Hind St Gallery, Ottery St Mary, Devon
2002 Open Exhibition, The Town Mill, Lyme Regis, Dorset
2003 Artists for Peace, The Meeting House, South St, Bridport, Dorset
2004 SGFA Open Exhibition, The Hotbath Gallery, Bath
2004 ‘Raft’ The Gallery, Winterborne Monkton, Dorchester, Dorset
2004 ‘Artyfacts’ Dorset County Museum, Dorchester, Dorset
2005 ‘New Horizons’, The Octagon Theatre, Yeovil, Somerset
2006 Friends and Family Exhibition, Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital, Wonford, Exeter
2007 Whitestones Café-Gallery, Easton, Portland, Dorset
2007 Beaminster Festival, Beaminster, Dorset
2007 ‘Threshold’ The Front Room Gallery, South St, Bridport, Dorset
2008 Royal West Of England 156 Autumn Exhibition, RWA, Queens Street, Bristol
2008 SGFA 87th Annual Open Exhibition, Menier Gallery, Southwark St, London
2008 Friends and Family Exhibition, Exeter Hospital, Devon
2008 ‘An Exhibition of Pastel Pictures’ (with Mazz Simmons) No 10 Café-bar, East St, Bridport Dorset
2009 Opening exhibition of paintings in newly built Bridport Medical Centre
2009 An Exhibition of Photographs and Paintings, with Peter Wiles, Nine Springs Alternative Health Centre, Yeovil, Somerset
2009 SGFA South West Members Exhibition, The Town Mill, Lyme Regis, Dorset
2009 ‘Spirit of Place’ Dorset County Museum, Dorchester, Dorset
2009 SGFA 88th Annual Open Exhibition, The Menier Gallery, Southwark St, London
2009 Friends and Family exhibition, RD&E hospital, Exeter
2010 ‘Portrait of the Artist’ Allsop Gallery, Bridport, Arts Centre, Bridport, Dorset
2010 ‘Art@Eype 2’, St Peter’s Church for the Arts, Eype, Bridport, Dorset
2010 Axminster Artisans, Trinity House, Axminster, Devon
2010 SGFA Open Exhibition, Menier Gallery, Southwark St, London
2010 Friends and Family exhibition, RD&E hospital, Exeter
2011 Whitestones Café-Gallery, Easton, Portland
2011 ‘Art@Eype 3’, Church for the Arts, Eype, Bridport, Dorset
2012 ‘Drawing-The Visual Expression of Thought’ Allsop Gallery, Bridport Arts Centre
2012 SGFA South West Members Exhibition, The Meeting House, Ilminster, Somerset
2012 Burton Bradstock Festival, The Village Hall, Burton Bradstock, Dorset
2012 SGFA – Draw 12, Annual Open Exhibition The Menier Gallery, Southwark St, London
2012 Friends and Family Exhibition, Exeter Hospital, Exeter, Devon
2013 SGFA South West Members, The Octagon Theatre Foyer Gallery, Yeovil, Somerset
2013 Burton Bradstock Festival Exhibition, The Village Hall, Burton Bradstock, Dorset
2013 ‘Drawing – The Visual Representation of Thought – Second Thoughts’ Allsop Gallery, Bridport Arts Centre,
2013 Draw 13 – SGFA open exhibition Menier Gallery, Southwark St, London.
2014 Art@Eype Group show, Eype centre for the Arts, St Peter’s Church, Eype, Bridport
2014 Friends and Family exhibition, RD&E hospital, Exeter
2014 Burton Bradstock Festival Exhibition, Bridport Dorset
2015 ‘Drawing, the Visual Expression of thought’ Russell-Cotes Museum, Café-Gallery
2015 ‘The Theatre of the Soul’ Bridport Arts centre, South St, Bridport, Dorset
2015 Burton Bradstock Music Festival Exhibition, Burton Bradstock, Dorset
2015 ‘6 x 9’, Bridport open Studios taster exhibition, Bridport Arts centre
2015 Christmas Exhibition, Le Viuex Four, pattisserie –gallerie, Beaminster, Dorset
2015 Secret Art Sale, Bridport Arts Centre fund raiser.
2016 1000 Post Cards, fundraising exhibition Black Swan Arts, Frome
2016 Burton Bradstock Music Festival exhibition
2016 Dorset Arts & Crafts Show, Wareham
2016 Quartz Arts Festival, Queens College, Taunton
2017 Art of the Unusual, Allsop Gallery, Bridport Arts Centre
2017 ‘Cake’ Shaftesbury Arts Centre Gallery with Amanda House and Karren Burkett
2017 Art@Eype, Eype Church for the Arts
2017 Bridport Open Studios, Taster Exhibition, Bridport Arts Centre.
2019 6 Bridport Artists, Eype Church, nr Bridport
2019 Strangways Hall Group, Abbotsbury Village Hall, Open For Art
2019 Watercolour Magic, The Gallery, Symondsbury, Dorset with Lyme Bay Arts
2020 'Natural Forms' Sou'Sou'West Gallery, Symondsbury
2021 The Museum of Mystery and Imagination, Bridport Arts Centre
2021 Art@Eype 2021, Eype Centre for the Arts, Bridport
Joint Exhibitions with David Brooke
2005 ‘An Exhibition of Imaginative Paintings and Drawings’ Octagon Theatre, Yeovil
2006 ‘Untold Stories’ Bridport Arts Centre Café-Gallery, Bridport, Dorset
2010 ‘Enchanted Seas and Lollipop Trees’ White Space Gallery, Milton’s Yard, Axminster
2011 Bridport Arts Centre Café-Gallery, Bridport, Dorset
2012 Lula’s Café-Bistro, East St, Bridport, Dorset
2013 ‘An Exhibition of Paintings and Drawings’ Le Vieux Four, Beaminster, Dorset
2016 Imagination Unbound: a retrospective, St Michael’s Studios, Bridport, Dorset
2017 Recent Work, Whitestones café-gallery, Easton, Portland
2020 'Imagination Unlocked' Eype Church for the Arts, Bridport
2021 'Imagination Unlocked 2' Eype Church for the Arts, Bridport
Open Studios
Dorset Art Weeks—participated since 1998 (except for 2008)
Bridport Open Studios (August bank holiday most years) - founder in 1999, coordinator 1999 & 2001, participator every year,except 2019 and during the pandemic
St Michael’s Studios—bank holiday open studios—Easter, Spring (alternate years with DAW), August, Christmas opening first weekend of December most years, until closing in 2018 after the devastating fire.
Open for Art – Artwey, open studios in Weymouth and Portland, 2017, 2019.